The Former 'Brown Bridge' in Great Barrington Is Now Open
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| Work on the state-owned bridge began in mid-2020. The project faced COVID-related delays and persistent rain earlier this summer, but contractors finished just a month or so behind schedule |
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The once brown, now red bridge is now open to traffic after structural work began about a year ago.
Structural work on the state-owned bridge where Routes 7, 23, and 41 converge over the Housatonic River is nearly complete, and construction barriers, construction crews, and work-related traffic snarls were removed this week, restoring normal traffic patterns at the north end of town.
"Any summer road construction in our town can be a big inconvenience for residents, visitors, and commercial traffic," said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. "We thank everyone for their patience over the past year."
Over the last year, workers reinforced the steel structure and concrete decking of the 119-foot steel truss span, built in 1931. The very first bridge to span the river there was a wooden version, built-in 1735, which was followed by several others
The bridge project was financed by the state Department of Transportation, and the cost was originally projected at $1.6 million. MIG Corp. of Acton was the contractor for the job.
Work on the state-owned bridge began in mid-2020. The project faced COVID-related delays and persistent rain earlier this summer, but contractors finished just a month or so behind schedule.
The work included a change of color and the once rusty brown steel truss span has been painted "primer red" similar to the "international orange" on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
The bridge color was selected by the town's Design Advisory Committee, prevailing over suggestions of green or a rainbow design.
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