MAS Building & Bridge is replacing a bridge in Lowell, MA. An important caveat of this project is that the utility pipes and conduits that run through the bridge need to stay in place and remain live. To accomplish that, Isaac Blair contracted with MAS Building & Bridge to shore the pipes and conduits in place so workers could rebuild the bridge around them. The biggest challenges were designing for — and installing — the shoring to be in 1 foot of running river water below the bridge, which resulted in crew members having to wear waiters and life jackets during assembly.

Following the success of the project, Martin Riley, Superintendent at MAS Building & Bridge, sent an email to Isaac Blair’s Foreman to comment on the quality of the team’s work performance.

“I am writing to you in regards to the recent work performed at Central Street in Lowell on 09/09 – 09/30. Your team was well organized, extremely knowledgeable and very professional throughout the entire process… Isaac Blair must have a strong safety program as the foreman and his crew were on point with their safety as well. I believe communication is the key to success. That being said, the crew involved me in their day-to-day schedule which kept us on the same page. This was only the first of two phases. As we must dismantle this system in the upcoming winter it is my hopes that we get the same crew from the top down. This crew is an asset to Isaac Blair.”

— Martin Riley, Superintendent, MAS Building & Bridge