Annisquam River blocked at RR bridge - check times

[eneumeier]

IN case any of you were planning on launching at Dunfudgin and doing the Blackburn route:  from the GDT

 

By rail and by water, the ongoing MBTA bridge replacement project continues to disrupt the lives of Cape Ann riders along the Rockport commuter rail line and mariners on the Annisquam River.

The next major disruption for mariners is scheduled to begin April 5, when the full river channel through the $100 million project will be closed to all vessel traffic Mondays through Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The closures, set to continue until April 30, are to accommodate a 100-foot by 30-foot work barge and pile-driving system that will be used to drive support piles for the bridge's fendering system. The MBTA said the barge and associated equipment will be moved from the channel after working hours and vessel access will resume.

 

"They're really trying to get the fender piles in," said city harbormaster T.J. Ciarametaro, who added that there will be a city harbormaster/police boat stationed on detail at the site during the hours of the closed vessel access.

The closure will block all northbound and southbound marine traffic beneath the 110-year-old railroad bridge that connects West Gloucester to Gloucester proper. Boats on the north side of the bridge will need to take the long route up the Annisquam, out Ipswich Bay and around Cape Ann to reach any points east and south of Gloucester and Rockport.

 

 

Vessel operators can reach the harbormaster staff on VHF Channel 16/13. Other questions may be addressed to the MBTA resident engineer, Matt Morehouse, at 617-839-8075 or sector Boston waterways manager Tim Chase at 617-447-1620.

Liz