Plummer Spring Road-Middle Street Bridge Reconstruction

Plummer Spring/Middle Street Bridge Reconstruction Project

CONSTRUCTION STATUS:  As of May 27, 2026, the bridge structure has been installed, the roadway backfilled, and the base course of pavement has been placed.  The remaining items are guard rail, fencing on the block walls, final top course of pavement, pavement markings and clean up.  The Contract Completion Date is November 2026, however, the anticipated completion date is July.  Exact date TBD. 

The Plummer Spring Road/Middle Street bridge is located on the border of West Newbury and Newburyport where Plummer Spring Road turns into Middle Street. The project will complete the desperately needed replacement of the bridge over the Upper Artichoke Reservoir allowing it to be reopened for public use.  The bridge was closed in July of 2018 due to its deteriorated condition and partial collapse. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the collapse and the materials originally used, none of the existing structure was salvageable for use in the replacement of the bridge. There are no utilities located at the bridge site, eliminating potential delays and complications resulting from their relocation.

The main structural support of the existing bridge is a granite arch built in the late 19^th century.  The clear span of the bridge is approximately 14feet long and approximately 24 feet wide.  There are four masonry stone wingalls that are approximately 24 feet long.

The entire existing bridge superstructure and substructure will be removed.  The new bridge superstructure is spread prestressed concrete box beams with a cast-in-place concrete deck slab supported by cast-in-place integral abutments with H-piles.  The span is 45 feet long and 32.5 feet wide, out-to-out.  The integral wingwalls are to be cast-in-place.  A sidewalk is being constructed on the south side.

Full pavement depth will be used throughout the limits of the roadway reconstruction. Safety improvements will be made by adding standardized bridge rails, precast guardrail transitions, and by increasing roadway width and improving the alignment.  

Both communities are sharing the total costs 50/50.  West Newbury secured a MassWorks grant in the amount of $1,000,000 as well as a MassDOT Small Bridge Grant in the amount of $750,000.  Newburyport secured two MassDOT Small Bridge Grants totalling $1,250,000.

Design and permitting were performed between 2019 and 2024.  Construction documents were finalized in 2024 and the construction bids were opened in October 2024.  S&R Corp. was the low bid of four total bidders.  A Notice to Proceed was issued in January 2025.

For additional information, go here.

Overview of Project:

Owners:  City of Newburyport and Town of West Newbury

Contractor:  S&R Corporation

Design Engineer:    BSC Group, Inc.

Construction Resident Engineer:   Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

Owner’s Project Manager:  Jon-Eric White, City Engineer

Construction Contract Amount:  $2,971,591

Funding Sources*:  MassWorks and DOT Small Bridge Grants totaling $3.0M

State Bridge No.:  N-11-007=W-20-001 (8BC)

*to pay for design, construction, and construction-phase oversight

NOTICE:

Public access beyond the gate is for PEDESTRIANS ONLY but not during work hours due to safety concerns.  This gate will remain closed during construction.  The gate will be opened for pedestrian access after construction has stopped for the day to allow for people to walk along this section of road.  No vehicles beyond this point (except for construction). 

ALL ACTIVITIES ARE BEING MONITORED BY VIDEO CAMERA TO PROTECT THE PROJECT AND MATERIALS FROM VANDALISM.  IF YOU SEE ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, PLEASE CONTACT NEWBURYPORT POLICE AT 978-462-4411 or 911

Should you have further questions or concerns please feel free to contact Newburyport DPS @ 978-465-4464.