The Massachusetts Department of Transportation broke ground Wednesday on the Rourke Bridge replacement project in Lowell.

The existing bridge across the Merrimack River will be replaced with a new structure that meets modern design and safety standards. It is expected to open to traffic in 2029 and be fully completed in 2030. Skanska USA and Jacobs Solution Inc are collaborating on the construction.

“The Lowell Rourke Bridge Replacement Project will result in smoother, faster commutes and restore a critical link for the Greater Lowell community and economy,” Gov. Maura Healey said.

The existing bridge was built in 1983 as a temporary structure with a four- or five-year lifespan. Over the past four decades, it has fallen into a visible state of disrepair.

“When I got my driver’s license I crossed the bridge, white-knuckled in my dad’s old pickup truck,” U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass, said. “If you’ve ever felt that bridge sway under your tires, or braced yourself as cars squeezed past in the opposite direction, you know exactly what I mean.”

Skanska does it again!