Somerset Bridge Issue Leads to Third SouthCoast Bridge Closure of the Day
SOMERSET (WBSM) — If you can believe it, there was a third bridge closure on the SouthCoast today, this time in Somerset.
Earlier today, the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge was briefly closed when power went out while the bridge was in the process of closing and a generator had to be used to allow it to finish.
The Padanaram Bridge in South Dartmouth was closed to vehicle traffic for an hour this morning as Department of Public Works crews prepared the bridge for scheduled maintenance coming up on Thursday.
Then this afternoon, the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Somerset ran into an issue and the eastbound lane was closed to travel for a period of time.
MassDOT spokesperson John Goggin told WBSM that the bridge was opened for marine traffic at 2 p.m., and at the end of the cycle, the southwest traffic gate became stuck in the down position.
He said maintenance crews were able to open the gate and normal operations resumed at about 2:40 p.m.
Somerset Police had to assist motorists in getting their vehicles off the bridge and advised motorists to seek an alternate route.
Police said MassDOT would “have to do some more closures to test that the issue has been resolved" and even after the bridge reopened, motorists should seek an alternative route.
Not-So-Rave Reviews for Fall River's Braga Bridge
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Hilarious Google Reviews of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge
Gallery Credit: Kate Robinson