Mill Street Bridge
**UPDATE: 4/7/08**
New Pictures Also!
As many of our residents are already aware construction on the Mill Street Bridge was halted temporarily on March 7, 2008. The Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety after reviewing the bridge design have determined there is insufficient water flow width beneath the bridge to allow sufficient quantities of water to protect the surrounding residents in the case of a 100 year flood event. The Office of Dam Safety has therefore instructed Mass Highway, the department responsible for the project, to redesign the bridge to new standards. Additionally, rebuilding of the weir or spillway, not a component of the original project, must now be accomplished as part of the updated scope of work.
The original design was for a “Bridge in Place” and considerations were given to Prominent structural inadequacies and did not necessarily encompass environmental inadequacies. Under a “Bridge in Place” project, the new bridge is designed to fit closely to the original footprint. In the case of the Mill Street Bridge that footprint was thirteen feet. Preliminary calculations place the required width around twenty feet wide. Parsons Engineering is currently updating the design to accommodate the increased width.
Once Parson’s completes their portion of the project, expected to be late April to mid May, Mass Highway must request updated permits from the Army Corp of Engineers, who control the waterways in this part of the state, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The process of obtaining updated permits could take an additional two months.
Officials from both Mass Highway and the Office of Dam Safety currently believe the project can be restarted by mid July. Both also agree there will be sufficient time before winter to accomplish enough site work allowing the bridge to reopen.
Mother Nature played a huge role in the apparent lack of progress seen this winter at the bridge site. Three large rain events caused the coffer dam to be breeched during each event. In all three events, the breeching severely damaged work already performed and required dismantling and restarting. These storms caused the loss of valuable time.
While work has all but ceased currently, the town is being assured the likelihood of having a bridge in place by winter remains very high. We will attempt to keep this site up to date during the rest of the construction season.
The Mill Street Bridge will be closed for renovation/construction beginning October 30, 2007. The Bridge is projected to re-open in November of 2008. Residents are encouraged to plan their travel routes accordingly. We apoligize for any inconveniences the closure may cause. For an interactive map, please click here.
New Photos (4/9/08):
Other Construction Photos:
This website is in continuous development…
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