CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A bridge in Chicopee that gets nearly 27,000 vehicles to their destination each day has reached its lifespan. The Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Bridge above Chicopee Street needs to be replaced. MassDOT held a public hearing Thursday evening. The bridge currently carries I-391 over Route 116. That's in the Willamensett neighborhood. Currently, the left lanes of both directions of I-391 are closed, as a result of the bridge deteriorating.. A representative with Williams Sale Partnership Ltd. told 22News, "Whitman, St. Louis Ave, all the streets around the local area, the goal is to not disrupt those during construction. We do have a lot of state right away to fit equipment, and store materials that should hopefully minimize the impact on local roads." Chicopee Street below the bridge remains open. MassDOT says you can expect road and highway closures. Those will take place when they demolish the current bridge and build the new one. The project is currently in the beginning stages of the design phase. In the meantime, the bridge is safe to drive over. Local News Headlines Local sexual abuse survivor speaks out during April’s month of awareness Springfield residents voice concerns, push for change at community dinner Closure, construction planned for Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Bridge New Springfield autism center offers services for children WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less