Sketch of what a new Rourke Bridge over the Merrimack River could look like

The long-awaited new Rourke Bridge is taking a couple of big steps toward becoming reality over the next three months. That information was relayed in a letter from the city’s state delegation earlier today.

The letter, signed by State Senator Ed Kennedy and Representatives Vanna Howard, Rodney Elliott and Tara Hong, was addressed to Mayor Danny Rourke and the City Council.

It lists January 23 as the date for “Public Price Proposal Opening Date.” That’s the date the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will open the bids submitted by interested design-builders since September 18, 2024.

D.O.T. will then review the bids and the next key date listed is March 28, 2025, the Anticipated Notice to Proceed. That’s the date the contract is awarded to the winning bidder.

The Rourke Bridge is a critical transportation link, carrying about 27,000 vehicles per day over the Merrimack River. The existing bridge was built as a temporary structure in 1983, frustrating residents and commuters alike, many who have expressed concern about the safety of a “temporary” structure now over 40-years old.

Despite efforts by state officials to allay those fears with the publication of inspection reports, the span is the sight of frequent closures and repair work that pop up on a somewhat regular basis.

After decades of frustration, it finally appears the project is on the verge of becoming reality, as studies and planning are yielding to more concrete timelines that move the new bridge closer to a construction start date.