New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Closed This Saturday for Filming of ‘Finestkind’

This story has been updated to reflect that the bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. 

Either give yourself some extra time or seek an alternate route on Saturday because the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge will be closed for the day.

MassDOT says the swing bridge will be closed off to travelers on Saturday, June 4, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and this time, it’s not for construction purposes.

It’s for Hollywood purposes.

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It turns out the historic bridge is the next setting for the cast and crew of the movie "Finestkind" as production takes over the busy four-lane bridge for the day.

Traffic from the New Bedford side intending to cross the bridge will be detoured to Route 18 northbound, to I-195 eastbound, to Route 240 southbound, and then to Route 6, MassDOT said in a release.

Traffic from the Fairhaven side intending to cross the bridge will turn right on to Main Street, then left on Howland Road which then becomes Coggeshall Street in New Bedford, then turn left onto Route 18 southbound to Route 6.

Travelers on Route 6 heading eastbound in advance of Route 240 will also be notified of the bridge closure and will be detoured to Route 240 northbound, to I-195 westbound, and then to Route 18 southbound to Route 6.

 Route 6 will remain open to local businesses on either side of the bridge. 

Bridge operators said the bridge will open on-demand for marine traffic.

While it causes quite the inconvenience for Saturday travelers, it is equally as exciting to know just how much of the SouthCoast will be in this new movie starring Tommy Lee Jones. The cast and crew have been spotted all over Fairhaven and New Bedford, enjoying local cuisine or taking over neighborhood streets. An inside scoop tells me that Jones will be on-site for the bridge scene this weekend.

Fairhaven native Jeff Cardoza recently shared the story of his run-in with the "Finestkind" cast and crew, who told him the film would be taking over the bridge to film a scene in which Jones will supposedly be arrested, so keep an eye for flashing lights and sirens.

"Finestkind" has been filming in New Bedford and Fairhaven for several weeks. The crime thriller from writer-director Brian Helgeland, an Academy Award-winning New Bedford native, is expected to be released on Paramount+.