Massachusetts Starts Building Rourke Bridge Replacement

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation broke ground Wednesday on the Rourke Bridge replacement project in Lowell.

The existing bridge across the Merrimack River will be replaced with a new structure that meets modern design and safety standards. It is expected to open to traffic in 2029 and be fully completed in 2030. Skanska USA and Jacobs Solution Inc are collaborating on the construction.

“The Lowell Rourke Bridge Replacement Project will result in smoother, faster commutes and restore a critical link for the Greater Lowell community and economy,” Gov. Maura Healey said.

The existing bridge was built in 1983 as a temporary structure with a four- or five-year lifespan. Over the past four decades, it has fallen into a visible state of disrepair.

“When I got my driver’s license I crossed the bridge, white-knuckled in my dad’s old pickup truck,” U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass, said. “If you’ve ever felt that bridge sway under your tires, or braced yourself as cars squeezed past in the opposite direction, you know exactly what I mean.”

The replacement Rourke Bridge connects Middlesex Street to Pawtucket Boulevard. It includes two travel lanes in each direction with shoulders and shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians on either side.

The new bridge also complies with accessibility standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Intersections at both ends of the new Rourke Bridge will be reconstructed alongside parts of Wood Street, Pawtucket Boulevard and Old Ferry Road to increase traffic safety and efficiency.

“The Rourke Bridge is more than just a way to cross the Merrimack; it’s a lifeline for Lowell and the surrounding region,” said Monica Tibbits-Nutt, state Secretary of Transportation and MassDOT CEO. “Breaking ground on this project marks a major step toward a safer, stronger, and more connected future.”

Sources: Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Lowell Sun