The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has awarded a $274 million contract to Skanska for the full design and replacement of the Rourke Bridge in Lowell, Massachusetts. The project addresses critical safety, capacity, and multimodal access issues on a structure that currently carries approximately 27,000 vehicles daily across the Merrimack River.
The scope includes removal of the existing 1983-era temporary bridge and construction of a new permanent bridge. Additional work involves roadway reconstruction, stormwater management infrastructure, highway drainage systems, upgraded traffic signals, highway lighting, utility relocation, and landscaping. The new design will incorporate updated bicycle and pedestrian facilities in compliance with ADA standards.
Construction began in May 2025 and is expected to be completed by February 2030. The bridge replacement is part of a long-term infrastructure plan based on a 2013 corridor study that evaluated alternatives to improve regional mobility for residents, businesses, and visitors.
This project is fully publicly funded and led by MassDOT.