Merrimack River Bridge in Haverhill

1/3 of the bridge refinish work seems to be completed closest to Bradford. They are now working the middle of the bridge and may be close to completion. No track laying yet of the 1/3 on the Haverhill side.

The side under construction has a huge tarp over the bridge superstructure so it's hard to see what's going on but I suspect they are sandblasting or otherwise doing something to the bridge superstructure - it's not laying track. The job is spending a lot of time on this phase, as it has not moved in weeks. But there is clearly a lot of activity in there, as there are plenty of workers around.

from the looks of things when the shrouds were dropped in addition to redoing the binding plates (a friend passed on bidding for the job) they are sandblasting and painting the superstructure. The tracks get relaid when they move the sand machine but I do not know if the tracks are train-ready.

swist wrote:The side under construction has a huge tarp over the bridge superstructure so it's hard to see what's going on but I suspect they are sandblasting or otherwise doing something to the bridge superstructure - it's not laying track.

Are there "containment" structures under the bridge? I don't know if it's required when they're coating it, but paint removal (at least when over a river) requires some pretty strict containment, especially for anything that has/had lead paint on it.
Dust collectors are probably another sign of media blasting going on.

This was a pretty complex project, on a railroad lift bridge: http://www.odysseycontracting.com/index_files/bath.htm

yes, there are containment structures and the shrouds go all the way down, underneath, and back up.

I can't say for sure, but I think that probably indicates paint removal in progress (or soon). I've seen bridge timber replacements done with no containment needed, but paint chips, etc., in the water would be frowned upon.

Sandblaster equipment moved. Shroud still on superstructure, but now another shroud between the superstructure and the Haverhill end.

Well it's only taken 2 years to do the inbound side. Maybe my long nightmare of 5mph from Lawrence to Bradford and thence to a very slow bus is almost over. I do wonder how they will allow the Downeaster to pass 213 when it's on the outbound track, though. Use the inbound as a passing track?

You can't really use the terms "inbound" and "outbound" anymore, since trains can now run on either track in both directions. Same thing for the Fitchburg Line with its recent upgrades.
Reading, though, is not signaled for bi-directional movements, so I suppose "inbound" and "outbound" terminology is still in vogue there.

Is between Lawrence and Bradford signaled? If it is, then why the 5-10 MPH?

The MBTA's crock-of-s***t operation of trains turning at Bradford was discussed earlier in this thread. Short form: no money/brains/attention for a temporary fix to the signals, so the rail-to-rail short required at the Bradford barricade by FRA rules drops all the signals on that track to Stop back to Frost interlocking in Lawrence. They had originally planned to issue train orders so trains didn't have to stop & proceed at each one, but the FRA forbade that. And My Broke(n) Transit Authority left it at that. Perhaps they'll handle the easterly track closure better, but I'm not holding my breath.

So I'm frequently on a Downeaster on the left hand track as you go from Bradford to Lawrence (same track used outbound). And I know we pass MBTA trains periodically (but not constantly) on the other track. So you're saying that these MBTA trains have to stop at all the signals and get some sort override permission? Wow, that really is silly.

I will have to say though, when the 681/682 DE trains are on time (which is most of the time these days), they pass each other just South of Frost and neither stops, so at least in that situation the signalling discussed here doesn't affect it. I can't speak to the MBTA.

Also back on the topic of the bridge, the amount of workers, equipment, and materials keeps steadily going up. It's pretty active out there now.

What is the state of affairs on the bridge now? How much progress has been made?

Looks like the current phase is winding down and preparations for the switch to the next phase will be happening soon.