By Max Bowen-max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
Repairs to the bridge on Chestnut Street should be done by the third week of July at the latest.
At a meeting of the Board of Public Works, DPW Director Mark Hollowell said there was a small section of the bridge that remains to be done. In addition, leveling will need to be done to the road once the bridge is finished. The area around the bridge will be paved and more leveling work can be done later.
“We’re expecting to be done the second or third week of July,” said Hollowell.
The bridge was closed in September so the work could begin. It was done by Northern Construction LLC., of Palmer, and included full replacement of the bridge and the existing water main in Chestnut Street. Reconstruction of the sidewalks on the northern side of Chestnut Street and milling and overlaying of the roadway from Route 1 to S. Washington Street were also done. Chestnut Street was closed to through-traffic between East Street and E. Washington Street.
Department of Public Works Director Mark Hollowell said the project is part of a series of upgrades and renovations, a recent one being the Fisher Street Bridge. He said the Chestnut Street Bridge is narrow and acts as an impediment to the flow of the river, something that will be addressed during its replacement.
In a 2018 report from the Massachusetts Bridge Inspection Program, it was determined that the bridge has a number of issues that need to be addressed. This includes heavy rusting on the beams and fractures in the plates between them. Exposed concrete was found to be heavily deteriorated.
