Just as quickly and quietly as it closed last summer, the Mishawum Extension Bridge has re-opened to drivers on Rutherford Avenue.
City officials noted that the bridge – a critical U-turn option for local drivers looking to go into Boston and avoid Sullivan Square – opened Oct. 30 after major repairs. The extension closed abruptly on July 30 with little notice to area drivers. After some inquiries, the Patriot Bridge learned that the closure was related to structural instability.
This week, City Engineer Para Jayasinghe indicated that the deck joint attachment plate was not in safe condition. Over the past three months, that new plate has been designed and installed, along with a weight bearing surface concrete wall.
The cost of the project was $75,000.
In July, State Rep. Dan Ryan said the closure was symptomatic of a much larger issue relating to the neglect of the Rutherford Avenue corridor. A larger planning effort for the corridor is beginning under the leadership of state Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack.