MARION — Phase One of construction on the Marion-Wareham Bridge is scheduled to begin in late 2025, officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced at a public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 21.

According to Project Manager Valerie Kilduff, crew members have been at the site of the bridge since June 2025 to collect soil samples from below ground surface in a process she called “field work boring”. This is being done to determine environmental and ecological protection requirements, including how to control erosion and sedimentation.

Replacing the bridge, which is located on Route 6 over the Weweantic River, has been a topic of discussion since 2018 when the state first introduced plans to do so. 

In 2023, the project was accelerated when there was a shift to a design build approach, according Kilduff. This approach is meant to help the project move along faster while being more flexible so improvements can be made sooner.

“These crossings connect our communities and provide access to the marina,” Kilduff said. “They’re aging and need to be brought up to modern safety and resiliency standards.”

Kilduff explained that the bridge will be replaced with a modern structure, including two lanes in each direction, shoulders for added safety and 10-foot wide shared use paths on both sides.

This “finally gives walkers and bikers a safe way to cross,” she said.

There will also be wider channel openings beneath the bridge for safer navigation and improved resiliency while also aligning with current standards.

“The design channel opening improves the navigation and safety for boaters while modernizing the structure for  long term durability,” Kilduff said.

Kilduff acknowledged that the bridge is “part of daily life, work, commute, school, drop offs and time on the water” and outlined the plans designed to avoid disrupting day-to-day life.

She explained that work will be completed in phases across the bridge to keep traffic moving and ensure that the marina stays open.

“By staging the work in segments across the bridge in multiple phases, we’ll build new sections while the existing lanes carry traffic,” she said.

One lane in both directions will remain open throughout construction, with typical work hours scheduled for between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Plans to limit construction impacts include implementing a noise control plan, a dust control plan and a pet control plan, which Kildulf will be monitored closely and adjusted if issues arise.

While construction is projected to begin later this year, the projected project completion date is 2028. Final designs for the bridges will be developed through 2026, with construction of Phase Two expected to begin in 2027 and Phase Three to begin in 2028.