Many deficient bridges in Lowell can't be repaired by the city

LOWELL, Mass. — A local bridge that's been flagged as a safety concern for years is finally getting a new deck.

The Lawrence Street Bridge is one of 116 bridges in the City of Lowell, and it’s not the only one that needs upgrades.

The problem is, that the city is not allowed to fix those other bridges because they do not own them.

“In November 2012, a lady who was going to work early in the morning hit some of those jersey barriers, bounced off and went across the bridge and over the bridge,” Lowell City Engineer Lisa Demeo said.

The city had already marked the bridge for repairs, but after the fatal accident they made it a priority. However, securing the funding and finalizing the bidding process took years -- a timeline some residents say is a safety concern.

“Everybody in Lowell has to use a bridge! We have no choice in the matter,” Lowell resident Bill Hodgkins said.

Demeo said all bridges in Lowell are safe to drive over. But according to state law safety regulations only require that a weight limit be posted.

Half of the bridges in Lowell are owned by the state or private companies, which prevents the city from interfering.

“As long as you know that you can't drive over that bridge, then they've taken care of it,” Demeo said.

This project is expected to cost $2.8 million. The city hopes to have it done by the end of this year, but that could change depending on weather.

Cox Media Group