Site Tour of Replacement of Gloucester Drawbridge over Annisquam River, Gloucester, MA

Site Tour of Replacement of Gloucester Drawbridge over Annisquam River, Gloucester, MA

Sponsored by the Construction Institute Boston Chapter
Thursday, March 2, 2023
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Site Tour 
46 Whittemore Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Networking Hour
Mile Marker One Restaurant, 75 Essex Ave, Gloucester

Speakers:
Peter Gagnon, PE, Senior Project Manager, MBTA
John Felteau, Project Manager, J.F. White Contracting Company

The Gloucester Drawbridge, carrying the MBTA’s Rockport commuter rail line over the Annisquam River, is one of only a handful of movable bridges in the Commonwealth. The original structure was a single-leaf trunnion bascule with an underneath articulating counterweight, which was first built in 1911, rebuilt in 1932, and rehabilitated in 1984 before this full replacement project commenced in 2017.

The replacement bridge, now 95% complete, is comprised of two independent single-leaf trunnion bascules operating side-by-side, each supporting one track. This $60 million project included staged demolition of the existing super- and substructures and construction of nine drilled shafts, three piers, steel approach spans, box beam approach spans, movable bascule spans, machinery room, and 3-story control tower.

During this hour-long site tour, representatives from the MBTA and J.F. White will provide an overview of the project sequence, focusing on challenges faced during construction and how they were addressed. Attendees are advised that trains will be operating on the tracks during the tour, and therefore all attendees must provide proof of up-to-date Keolis Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) training certification, as well as a BSCES Site Tour Liability Waiver. Send a copy of both documents to bsces@engineers.org in advance of the tour.

There will be a networking hour to follow the tour at the nearby Mile Marker One Restaurant. Appetizers will be served and are included in the registration fee.

Registration Deadline: Extended to Wednesday, March 1, 2023
$45 BSCES Members, $40 Public Sector Members, $15 Students & Senior (65+) Members
$55 Non-Members, $45 Public Sector Non-Members
All attendees must provide proof of up-to-date Keolis RWP training certification and wear work boots, a hard hat, high visibility vet, gloves, and safety glasses.

Information/Registration: 
Click here to view the event flyer. Register to attend this meeting and pay by credit card by clicking Registration above. To register online for an event at the BSCES member rate you must login using your BSCES assigned username and password. If you do not know your BSCES member login information email bsces@engineers.org or call 617/227-5551. You can also register for this event by mail or email. To do so, download and complete a BSCES Event Registration Form and follow the submission instructions. Cancellations received after February 27, 2023 and no-shows will be billed.

Please note that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists anywhere other people are present, and even precautionary measures such as masking and social distancing cannot completely eliminate this risk. The Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE (BSCES) encourages any person attending a Society-sponsored in-person activity to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, any person who chooses to travel to and/or participate in any BSCES in-person activity assumes all risks arising from that decision. All participants must agree to comply with all safety procedures established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as any other protocols put in place by BSCES, the host sites, travel facilities, or any other applicable authorities.