By early 1934, the north section of Chelsea Bridge was in need of repairs. On June 27, 1934, traffic on the north draw was restricted to vehicles under except for streetcars, using only one lane in each direction. The century-old drawtenders' house nearly collapsed into the river on July 23, 1934, as piles supporting it sank into the riverbed. A $292,222 contract () for repairs to the north span was issued on October 26, 1934. The bridge closed to all traffic effective January 14, 1934. Initial plans had called for streetcar service by the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway (successor to the Lynn and Boston) to be maintained during construction. However, the Eastern Mass instead operated buses between Chelsea Square and Haymarket Square via the Meridian Street Bridge and the newly opened Sumner Tunnel under a permit issued just two days prior. The bridge reopened on December 23, 1935, without streetcar tracks; the Eastern Mass continued its bus operations. The Boston Elevated Railway began Chelsea Square– bus service over the bridge on July 2, 1936.