Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said they will make a new sign for the David Ortiz Bridge after the one currently hanging on a fence along the span near Fenway Park was apparently vandalized.

The sign commemorating Big Papi’s career, which was installed last year as the Red Sox slugger readied for retirement, was hit by a person armed with a black marker.

The scribble was pointed out by a local photographer Thursday, days before the start of the baseball season. A few random stickers were also seen on the sign.

The photographer happened upon the writing while traveling across the bridge, a span that connects Kenmore Square to the Lansdowne Street area, near historic Fenway Park. The bridge runs above the Massachusetts Turnpike.

“Hey Boston, this is why we can’t have nice things,’’ the photographer behind 617 Images Boston wrote on Twitter. “Can we get this vandalism cleaned up before opening day on Monday?’’

Care of the sign is the responsibility of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

An agency spokesman said in a statement that the department was fabricating a replacement sign and expected to replace the damaged sign Friday.

“MassDOT personnel will also check the sign on Monday morning to ensure it is in good condition for Red Sox Opening Day,’’ Patrick Marvin said in an e-mail.

The bridge was dedicated to Ortiz in October, as part of his grand farewell tour. It was then that a shark was named after him, a candle was created in his honor, and a Lego statue was built in his likeness.

A proposal to rename the span, formerly known as the Brookline Avenue Bridge, was part of a supplemental budget and pushed by state legislators.

The legislation stated that the bridge’s new moniker was a hat tip to the Red Sox star’s “athletic accomplishment during 14 seasons . . . and his personal contributions to the Commonwealth, notably, his charitable commitment to children in New England and the Dominican Republic.’’

STEVE ANNEAR

Globe staff

Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.