Lowell MA: Incident Prompts Closure of Pawtucket Street Bridge Over Pawtucket Canal

LOWELL - On the morning of Monday, February 10, a sizeable structural component fell from the 

Pawtucket Street Bridge over the Pawtucket Canal. No one was injured in the incident. 

Following the collapse of the roughly 80' concrete strip, an immediate decision was made to close the bridge to all vehicular traffic to allow Department of Transportation (MassDOT) bridge inspectors to assess the condition of the bridge. In the course of their assessment, MassDOT inspectors identified several additional structural deficiencies and determined that the bridge shall remain closed.

The City of Lowell is awaiting a full report from the inspection, but anticipates that the bridge will 

remain closed to traffic in both directions for the foreseeable future. Residents and commuters are advised delays in the area and should be prepared to follow detoured routes. The bridge will remain open to pedestrian traffic.

The Pawtucket Street Bridge is among the six canal bridges being replaced in the City and has been 

under construction and closed to traffic in the eastbound (inbound) direction since May of 2019.

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