A look at the Whittier Bridge construction project, which is slated for completion in 2016.
Barges have become an essential part of the Whittier Bridge project. A loading yard has been built on the Newburyport side of the river, near the city’s water treatment plant.
The new bridge will sit on formed concrete piers, unlike its predecessor, which can be seen in the background. The old bridge sits on stone-based piers.
In addition to the construction of the bridge over the Merrimack River, the project continues to widen the highway to four travel lanes in each direction (it is currently three travel lanes in each direction in the area of the Whittier Bridge). Here, the new and old Whittier bridges are seen from…
The new Whittier Bridge uses an entirely different design theory from its predecessor. One of the key differences is the reliance on a more stable and stronger structure that is far superior to the design of the 1950s-era Whittier Bridge. The old bridge’s structure uses steel trusses that are con…
The contractor has constructed a rail system to allow for the maneuvering of the “gantry crane,†a massive crane used to hoist the steel girders into place. The crane and rails can be seen in this photo.
