Upper Millyard - Request for Determination
The City of Amesbury has filed an RDA to remove the deteriorated ~40-foot pedestrian bridge superstructure over the Powwow River at 25 Friend Street; removal will be by single crane pick with abutments left in place and no in‑water work proposed.
AI summary
The City of Amesbury has filed an RDA to remove the approximately 40-foot steel truss pedestrian bridge over the Powwow River at 25 Friend Street. Removal is planned as a single crane pick from the adjacent paved parking area with existing concrete abutments left in place and no in‑water work proposed. The RDA (submitted 9/18/2026, eDEP transaction ID 2051746) seeks a Negative Determination for the short‑term demolition; engineered lifting plans and replacement bridge permitting will follow separately.
Gallery
Project details
What is proposed
The City of Amesbury has filed a Request for Determination of Applicability to remove the existing upstream pedestrian bridge superstructure over the Powwow River in the Upper Millyard. The work is limited to demolition and removal of the steel truss superstructure; the concrete abutments will remain in place. Replacement of the bridge and any associated work will be permitted separately under a future filing.
Where and how big
The bridge is located at 25 Friend Street in the Upper Millyard and spans the Powwow River. The existing superstructure is approximately 40 feet long and consists of steel trusses supporting a timber floor system. The RDA and supporting materials were prepared by TEC, Inc. (RDA forms) and SPS New England, Inc. (Demolition Work Plan) under MassDOT Contract 130460.
Method, resource protection and site access
The demolition plan calls for a single crane pick from the paved parking area south of the bridge; no in‑water work or equipment operating in the riverbed is proposed. Preparatory activities are limited and include removal of timber ramps, verification/disconnection of electrical components, underground utility investigation (DigSafe), and selective tree trimming where limbs obstruct the lift. The contractor will inspect timber elements beneath the bridge before lifting and may install debris controls (for example debris netting) if loose material could enter the river; any debris that enters the river would be retrieved by hand to minimize disturbance. Equipment fueling and maintenance will occur outside the resource area and spill‑response materials will be kept onsite.
The primary hoisting operation is planned during an overnight shift (approximately 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) to reduce downtown impacts; temporary pedestrian closures and police detail will be coordinated, and temporary fencing will secure the approaches after removal. The demolition Work Plan anticipates no impacts to nearby resource areas (Inland Bank and its 100‑ft buffer, Riverfront Area, or Bordering Land Subject to Flooding) from this short‑term removal.
Status
The bridge was closed to pedestrian traffic in July 2026 after inspections documented advanced deterioration, including areas of full section loss along truss bottom chords. The City submitted the RDA via Massachusetts eDEP (Transaction ID 2051746, submitted 9/18/2026) and is seeking a Negative Determination from the Amesbury Conservation Commission for the short‑term removal only. A formal engineered demolition procedure and crane/pick plan will be submitted prior to demolition; installation of the replacement bridge will be addressed in a separate permitting process.
Discussion at meetings
- APPROVEFind in the negative for the RDA for removal of the Upper Millyard pedestrian bridge and waive the filing fee (allow bridge removal with protections).
