Gloucester Drawbridge Replacement Progress Recap, January – March 2022 | Updates

Updated on May 23, 2022

A wide view of the entire Gloucester Drawbridge under construction as seen in March 2022. A crane is at right suspending a long metal object in the air to the right of the control tower. At center bottom is the waterway over which the bridge spans. The bridge is in the middle distance under a dark blue sky. Both approaches to the bridge appear on either side of the photo. — The replacement of the Gloucester Drawbridge is nearly complete (March 2022)

The MBTA is pleased to announce that single track service over the Gloucester Drawbridge will resume on Monday, May 23, marking the resumption of Commuter Rail service to Gloucester and Rockport stations.

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As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.

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Movable Bascule Span

In early March the northern bascule was shipped to us in sections, and crews assembled it on site. On March 22 and 23, we closed the channel beneath the bridge for the installation of the new bascule.

Crews used self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) to move the bascule from the staging area—where it was assembled—up to the edge of the bridge abutment.

Train tracks fill the bottom of the photo. At center is the bascule assembly resting on self-propelled modular transporters. These allow crew members to move the span over the channel and set it into place. — The bascule assembly on self-propelled modular transporters (March 2022)

From there, we used a large gantry crane to lift the bascule span off the SPMTs, moved it over the channel, and set it in place on the trunnion pier.

The wide bascule is suspended by a gantry crane as the bascule is being put in place. The crane is just below the bridge at the left edge of the water, and a yellow-vested crew member observes from a small boat on the water at lower right. — Setting the bascule in place via gantry crane (March 2022)

After it was set, crews balanced and aligned the bascule.

The image is filled with machinery painted orange, white, grey, yellow, and blue. At right is a giant wheel above a smaller cog just below it. The arm of a worker can be seen resting on part of the machine. Another worker's torso can be seen at left behind another piece of smaller, more intricate machinery. — Workers adjust the rack alignment (March 2022)

East Approach Spans

With the northern bascule in place, crews began the process of removing the temporary construction trestle. We used the work trestle to support the gantry crane system and facilitate construction of the new bridge.

A large, long, rust-colored, box-shaped metal trestle with smaller metal crossbars attached in perpendicular fashion across the top hangs from the chains of a crane ovoer a wooden pier next to the bridge span. The waterway can be seen below the bridge, trestle, and pier at left and right. — Removal of the work trestle that we used to support the gantry crane system and facilitate bridge construction (March 2022)

With the trestle out of the way, we set the approach spans’ precast box beams in place.

A long, rectangular, cast concrete box-shaped beam is suspended by cables by a crane over the bridge. A crew member in a yellow jacket and hardhat works below the beam. The control tower is at right, and the blue sky is overhead. — Setting a precast box beam in place (March 2022)

We also erected the steel beams that span the bascule’s counterweight section.

A long, elongated, box-shaped steel beam is suspended over the bascule counter weight on the bridge. Yellow-jacketed workers in hardhats hold each end of the beam and move it into place. The train tracks can be seen at upper right, the waterway at upper left. — Installing steel beams over the bascule counter weight (March 2022)

Pier 2

Pier 2 contains the trunnion tower, which supports the moveable bascule span and houses the machinery needed to move the bridge. We have now fully constructed the northern section of the pier. This includes the machinery platform, and the front, rear, and side walls.

The large, blocky poured concrete trunnion pier structure fills the frame. Train tracks run over the top of the pier, and reinforcing rebar sticks up into the sky above the concrete structure, awaiting completion. Machinery can be seen within and next to the pier. — The trunnion pier (March 2022)

Our crews installed the trunnion support columns and machinery.

Three workers in yellow vests install machinery above a poured concrete structure, with steel posts pointing skyward on either side of them. Plywood temporary railings run along the side of the platform on which they work, and tall ladders lead from the base of the pier to the work area. — Installing machinery at Pier 2 (March 2022)

After we placed the bascule on the trunnion, we formed and poured the reinforced concrete tie beam. This tie beam connects the front and rear walls to provide lateral support, and will support the walkway that will be above it.

A worker in hardhat and yellow jacket standds next to a long poured concrete tie beam laid alongside the bridge tracks. A plywood walkway has been constructed around the platform holding the beam in the air. — Construction of the Pier 2 tie beam (March 2022)

Signals, Controls & Power

We have fully tested the southern bascule, which supports the south track. We’ve also fully tested the signal system, and vetted it for the return of single-track service. Our focus now turns to the northern bascule, and to providing power and controls. Crews have been installing conduit and wiring.

Long black conduit pipes run diagonally across the photo. They're suspended by metal rods from the steel grating overhead, and wooden piers over the water below. A walkway runs alongside the conduit to allow workers access. — Conduit runs between the northern and southern structures (March 2022)

Upcoming Work

Work on power and controls for northern bascule
Testing of northern bascule
Northern track work

For More Information

If you have questions or comments, please email the team at GloucesterDraw@MBTA.com.

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