Bridge Operators Suspended After Couple Got Trapped on Chelsea Street Bridge

On February 7, the operators managing the vertical lift of the Chelsea Street Bridge have been suspended by MassDOT following an incident in which a couple became trapped on the bridge and was lifted to the top.

According to MassDOT, on February 7, a vehicle became wedged between the safety gates on the bridge’s deck. The lift operators, apparently failing to follow proper procedures, raised the bridge to the top while the couple remained in their car on the deck.

On Friday, February 8, MassDOT ordered the contractor responsible for operating the Chelsea Street Bridge to suspend the operators who were on duty on the evening of February 7 until further notice.

““While fortunately no one was injured in
this incident, the failure of operators to act according to safety procedures
warranted their immediate suspension,”,” said a MassDOT spokesman.

MassDOT has stated that it is not aware of any other instances of a vehicle being caught between the safety gates when the Chelsea Street Bridge was raised. The agency is continuing its investigation into how this incident occurred on February 7.