New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Replacement: Your Chance to Weigh In

A virtual public meeting is taking place this month for SouthCoast residents to ask questions regarding the proposed replacement for the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge.

Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett), House co-chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, announced today that “MassDOT has advanced design plans for the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge replacement project to the 25 percent completion level.”

Because it has reached that phase, there now must be a virtual public meeting to allow for comments and input on the project. The meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, December 19 at 6 p.m.

The outdated 120-plus-year-old swing bridge is scheduled to be replaced by a vertical lift bridge that is expected to have towers reaching190 feet in the air and two lift heights of 80 feet and 138 feet while giving marine traffic 270 yards of clearance, and will also have shared use lanes for bicycles and pedestrians.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027.

“Now that the US Coast Guard has signed off on the minimum height and width clearances for navigation below the bridge, the MassDOT design team is ready to present the designs for added public input,” Rep. Straus said. “This is a very important stage of the design process, and I encourage interested individuals and parties to participate.”

During the virtual meeting on Dec. 19, a formal presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. The meeting will also be recorded to watch later for those who cannot attend and will be posted to the study website after its conclusion.

For more information on the project and for instructions on how to attend the virtual meeting, visit the project website.

Hilarious Google Reviews of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge

We've all been there. You think you've made it with a couple of minutes to spare, only to get caught at the red light as the bridge closes. Some of us turn around. Others wait. What most of us don't do, however, is take our anger to the internet — but apparently, several people have, and the results are both hilarious and relatable.

With an average rating of two stars on Google, our love-to-hate-it SouthCoast landmark proves that it's at least slow enough for those stuck waiting to grab their phones and pour out their feelings online. From glowing to glowering, here's what people have to say about the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge.

Gallery Credit: Kate Robinson

WBSM's Top SouthCoast Stories 11/18 to 12/1

These are the top stories in New Bedford and across the SouthCoast from November 18 to December 1, 2024. Click the photo or title to read the complete story.

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg

Source: New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Replacement: Your Chance to Weigh In