Paving on Bridge Street in Salem expected to finish in early July

By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent

More than two years and about $10 million later, the construction that has had Bridge Street in shambles will soon wrap-up with a much-improved route between Salem and Beverly.

Paving of the roadway and sidewalks on Bridge Street between Beacon and Howard Streets is expected to finish on Thursday, and all of the major renovations as part of the Massachusetts State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) are expected to be complete by early July.

The finished product - designed by city, completed by Newport Construction, Inc. of Nashua, New Hampshire, managed by the Department of Transportation, and funded entirely by the state - includes new roadways, sidewalks, streetlights, pedestrian crossings, handicap access points, and improved mobility for bicyclists, including a path connecting from Webb Street.

Businesses and residents alike are no doubt happy to soon have their street back.

"The whole area has really been great," said City Engineer David Knowlton. "They've been really understanding - and tolerant I guess is the way to put it - about the project. It's taken a long time.

"But it is wrapping up finally, and we're looking forward to moving on to the next project."

The next STIP project to take place in Salem: An overhaul of the same magnitude along the entirety of Canal Street, from Riley Plaza to the intersection of Loring and Jefferson Avenues. According to Knowlton, the city is designing the project now, and work is expected to begin in 2014.