NORTH ADAMS — Construction on the William "Billy" F. Evans Bridge, which runs over the Hoosic River on State Road, has been stopped while MassDOT works to treat and fix contaminated groundwater discovered during the project, according to MassDOT officials.

The state highway bridge sits just past West Package and Variety in the city’s West End and is a main thoroughfare on the way to Greylock Works, Stop & Shop and northbound to Williamstown.

Work to fully replace the bridge began in 2023, according to MassDOT’s website. In recent months, drivers have noticed that there seems to be little to no work being done on the half-finished bridge, which forces traffic into sharply narrowing lanes.

When parts of the old bridge were being removed, crews discovered discoloration of the soil and groundwater that was "accompanied by a strong odor," according to an email from MassDOT. Testing the area detected "Volatile Organic Compounds," which are chemicals released as gases that emit from liquids or solids, according to the EPA.

Work then began on how to treat it it and discharge it back into the river.

In May, a temporary enclosure was built across the river that is completely dry, known as a cofferdam, to create a safe, dry work environment and allow engineers and construction crews to inspect and build the bridge.

The next step is to dry out that area, known as dewatering, after which the groundwater will need to be treated, MassDOT officials said. MassDOT’s District 1 Office has been coordinating with MassDOT Environmental on its proposed water treatment approach.

The dewatering, or drying out the work area, is being done under an extra work order for $560,000, which is additional funding to the contract and is under review for approval, MassDOT officials said. Treating the contaminated groundwater is another work order for $585,000.

Construction is expected to resume early July 2026, according to MassDOT.

The bridge replacement, totaling over $15 million according to MassDOT's website, is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Program.

Environmental issues have stopped work on the William "Billy" F. Evans Bridge on Route 2 in North Adams. City and state officials say an unexpected groundwater issue has delayed the federally funded bridge replacement with construction expected to resume in July, according to MassDOT.

The bridge is named after North Adams native and Drury High School graduate Evans, 41, who died in April 2021 when an attacker drove a car into him at a barricade outside the U.S. Capitol, where he worked as a police officer for 18 years. Formerly known as the Greylock bridge, state Rep. John Barrett III filed legislation in 2022 to rename the bridge in his honor and it was approved in 2023.

The law also states that MassDOT place a plaque on the bridge with the following inscription: “On April 2, 2021 United States Capitol Police Officer William 'Billy' Evans completed his final watch defending the United States Capitol Building.”