In Plymouth, the DPW asks its engineering consultant to review the design of the Brook Road Bridge, resulting in bridge closure this week.
Bobbi Clark has more:
Director of Public Works Jonathan Beder says residents are asking questions:
“Will pedestrians be able to walk over the bridge. We’re hearing a lot of that, and why did we look at the design again? So, will pedestrians be able to utilize the bridge while the road is closed—that’s something we’re working on with our consultant. We hope to have an answer within the next couple of days. And then the other biggest piece is why did we look at the analysis again? Again, it’s been over 15, 16 years—a lot of things happen when you look at the structure.”
And the analysis of the bridge design is revealing:
“Basically, what happened was, the flanges, for those steel beams, there was an error in the original review, and the span, and the safety factors. Those are three major components why our bridge engineer now is recommending that the bridge be closed.”
In terms of bridge replacement cost, what is the status of the five hundred thousand dollar grant that we had from MassDot?
“We got an extension thru June of ’22 for the MassDot and I don’t believe we’re going to be going to fall town meeting for the bridge, it probably will be more likely the spring of ‘22. But we would ask MassDot for another extension.”
The MassDot grant was to be supplemented by a town meeting appropriation of one point seven five million dollars to replace the bridge, but the article calling for that at last April’s town meeting was withdrawn
