Digging up Weirs Blvd Bridge will begin Wednesday

LACONIA — Digging work on the old Weirs Boulevard Bridge is slated to begin Wednesday, in a construction project that began Sept. 8. 

The bridge is across from the Langley Cove development.

Traffic is being detoured up White Oaks Road, and vehicles can reach as far as 569 Weirs Blvd from the roundabout. Traffic coming from the south will be routed to White Oaks.

Public Works Director Nate Guerette said Friday they saw a large number of vehicles coming south and turning around near the construction. He said the detour from the south seems to give drivers more time to detour up White Oaks Road. His crews added more signs at the roundabout, moved signs around to make them more visible, and added signage closer to the bridge construction site.

“It’s to the point we can’t add any more signs.”

Guerette said it took longer than they thought for GPS apps to register the road closure, but as of mid-last week, apps are taking drivers through the detoured route, totaling 5.6 miles.

Guerette said current work on the bridge consists of clearing and grubbing roots and stumps, and working on erosion control. Crews tested the sewer force main and laid down three cofferdam sheets. One sheeting system will create a stable, dry workspace for crew, and the other two will act as stream diversions. These systems act as a temporary steel wall, interlocking steel sections driven into the ground and working as a barrier, pumping out soil and water. Guerette said they are expensive, but effective.

Guerette said they have run into a few challenges, but are still on track for substantial completion by the end of November, which will allow for local traffic flow from both sides. Final completion is scheduled for June 4, 2027.

Guerette said they are installing the water main sooner than anticipated, as the site is shallow enough for digging.

The driveway to the Capri condos, at 556 Weirs Blvd, will also be reconfigured straight to Alexandra Drive, to avoid collisions from cars turning left onto Weirs Blvd from both outlets.

Guerette said they also found the ground was shallow along the road to the condos, so they had to reroute electricity as a result.

Also at the site, Guerette said they were unsure of what the manholes were made. Construction crews sprayed liners to check to see if they could be rehabilitated, but found they were not in good condition, and will be replaced before the new force main is installed.

Cynthia Makris, owner of The NASWA Resort at 1086 Weirs Blvd, said access has been horrible “the minute the signs went up.”

Makris said she had people calling the resort the day after Labor Day, asking if they were closed for the season. She said many visitors were confused coming in from the south bypass, and did not know how to get to The NASWA. Makris said they are receiving multiple calls a day from guests asking how to get there. Currently, the resort can be reached by traveling from the north through the roundabout. Makris said she also contacted Police Chief Matt Canfield, who was able to get a sign up at the roundabout reading "businesses open."

The NASWA Resort will remain open through Columbus Day.

Canfield said there have been no safety issues or incidents with the construction site or detour up White Oaks, and after a long time in the works, said this project “has to happen.”

Guerette said over the weekends and evenings, there have been some motorcycles coming through the south entrance of Weirs Blvd because they can fit. He advised this activity to stop, as digging will start Wednesday, leaving a giant hole in the road.