MassDOT Just Issued a Warning for the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge This Week

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is warning motorists ahead of time that there are likely to be issues later this week with the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge due to expected high temperatures.

MassDOT Warns of Extended Route 6 Delays

MassDOT issued a release this afternoon “advising the public of potential impacts to vehicular traffic” on the swing bridge “due to extreme heat forecasted from Wednesday, July 1, through Tuesday, July 7.”

The release noted that during this time period, the bridge may remain in the “open” position for marine traffic to pass through, but closed to vehicular traffic.

“Motorists should be aware of the potential for a closure to Route 6, and are advised to seek alternate routes through the area as needed,” MassDOT said. “Should the bridge require temporary closure, subsequent advisories will follow.”

Get our free mobile app

The History of Recent Fairhaven Bridge Mechanical Issues

Recent bridge issues occurred on May 7 and May 11, as well as on March 9 and March 11. Each time, the reason given was that it was a “mechanical issue.”

Why Extreme Heat Causes the Swing Bridge to Jam

That issue turned out to be that “the bridge decking binding on the hydraulic jacks that raise the ends of the bridge to lock it into place for vehicle traffic,” a MassDOT spokesperson told WBSM back in May.

READ MORE: Why the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge Keeps Breaking Down

“The condition occurs from temperature differences between the cooler water and daytime solar heating,” the spokesperson said. “The upper portion of the bridge becomes significantly warmer than the lower portion, which causes a slight ‘curling’ effect at the ends of the swing span during bridge openings.”