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| By Michelle Symington Staff Writer AGAWAM Motorists are advised to try to avoid the South End Bridge (Julia B. Buxton Bridge) as a new phase of construction work, which includes a series of lane closures, takes place over the next few months. Erik Abell, assistant press secretary for the Executive Office of Transportation, explained that the work is part of an ongoing rehabilitation project on the bridge, which began in 2002. He explained that the project was originally slated for completion during the first half of 2004. However, he said that once the construction began and the scope of deterioration on the bridge was recognized, "we decided it would make more sense to replace it while doing work rather than to put a temporary patch on it." The bridge work was originally an $8.5 million project. With the additional work, Abell said the current cost for the bridge repairs is about $17 million. The most recent phase of construction included the replacement of a bridge rail on a section of the Springfield side of the bridge. That phase of work, which lasted about five weeks, was completed just before the opening of the Big E. Abell said that the new phase of construction should be the last of the work that requires lane closures. "This element is taking us through the end of the year," he said. This phase of work includes deck repairs as well as joint and floor beam replacement. In order to speed up the project, the contractor will work 12-hour days, seven days a week. Abell said that Department of Transportation officials recommend that motorist drive over the bridge during non-peak hours or, if they can, avoid the bridge altogether. On Oct. 3, the two median lanes were closed and will remain that way for four to five weeks. During that period, one lane of traffic is expected to remain open in each direction. Once that portion of the project is complete, the traffic will shift. For the next four to five weeks, the southbound lanes will be closed and traffic will be detoured. Once the work on the southbound lanes are complete, the northbound lanes will then be closed for four to five weeks, resulting in a detour for northbound motorists. Abell said that there will be additional work done in the spring underneath the bridge that will not affect the lanes. He added that the work in the spring should be the last part of the bridge rehabilitation project. |