Fall River-Somerset Veterans Memorial Bridge Testing Planned

Motorists traveling between Fall River and Somerset are advised that this Thursday and Friday nights, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will be performing test openings of the drawbridge on the Veterans Memorial Bridge that spans across the Taunton River.

According to MassDOT, the test openings will take place on Thursday, December 9 and Friday, December 10, starting at 7 p.m. and concluding at 5 a.m. the next morning.

There will be 12 test openings lasting about 10-15 minutes each over the 10-hour period each night.

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There will also be signs, law enforcement and messaging to guide drivers through the work area, but those utilizing the bridge should expect delays, and should also reduce speed and use caution, MassDOT said.

See How Much This Fall River Intersection Has Changed in a Decade

Well this is surely a blast from the past. While exploring Google Maps' street view feature recently, I came across an old still from 2012 mixed in with the more recent ones. It showed an almost decade-old look at Fall River's New Harbour Mall, which is now dead and has been replaced by the stores at the SouthCoast Marketplace. The more I looked around the intersection on William Canning Boulevard, the more I began to see remnants of the past, some that may now be long-forgotten for some. This Fall River intersection has changed so much in the past near-decade, but if you're needing a little look in the rearview to see how far it's come, check out some of the following stills.

Gallery Credit: Kari Jakobsen