An off-shore bonding company has replaced the contractor that defaulted on the Boston-area Rte. 128 Winter Street bridge project, bringing on South Boston-based McCourt Construction.

McCourt is expected to take control of operations next month. Currently, Bridges Corp., a subsidiary of North Billerica-based Roads Corp., is continuing work at the site after the bond company takeover this fall.

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy said she was notified of the change Tuesday in a letter from the Massachusetts Highway Department district director.

“The state is of the same opinion as I am: that this is good news,” she said.

State officials announced this fall that Bermuda-based XL Capital would take over the project after Roads, the original contractor, defaulted.

Initially, XL Capital contracted with Bridges, a recently formed Roads subsidiary.

At the time, XL spokeswoman Christine Weirsky said the bonding company hired Bridges in spite of Roads’ failure, because it wanted to keep work moving forward as quickly as possible on the project.

Weirsky did not return calls seeking comment for this story.

McCourt, one of the largest highway contractors in the Boston area, worked on finishing the Tip O’Neill Tunnel on the Central Artery in Boston’s Big Dig.

The company ended up taking extensive add-ons to fix leaks in the tunnel that became a major issue after the tunnel opened.

Massachusetts Highway spokesman Erik Abell expressed faith in the new contractor.

“We expect they will get this project moving again,” he said.

A McCourt Construction official did not return calls seeking comment.