Clarksburg Neighbors Raise Concerns Over River Road Bridge Closure
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| The 66-year-old bridge will be fully replaced in four to five years. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The select board welcomed representatives from MassDOT to discuss the closure of River Road as a temporary bridge is installed.
During the regular select board meeting Monday, residents shared their fears and anxieties about the closure, including access, road conditions, heavier traffic and speed enforcement.
"We appreciate the open communication, the support, the outreach," said Francisca Heming, MassDOT Highway District 1 Office Director. "That has been important because this is a critical route, and we can't fool around with safety."
MassDOT announced the closure of River Road (Route 8) over the North Branch of the Hoosic River near the intersection of East Road to facilitate the installation of a temporary bridge over the existing Red Mills Bridge, following a bridge inspection that resulted in the failure of the 66-year-old bridge.
The closure will begin Monday, Aug. 10.
Heming said the road will be closed for two months, during which traffic will be detoured via Walker Street and East Road:
Northbound Detour: Route 8 North, Henderson Road, East Road, Daniels Road, Walker Street, Union Street, Route 8
Southbound Detour: The reverse of the northbound detour route applies for southbound travelers.
Heming said MassDOT understands that the situation is inconvenient, but after pointing out the dire condition of the bridge, she stated it is an emergency that needs to be addressed at all costs. She added that they are expediting the project aggressively.
"When this structure started to show such severe deterioration they start to go very very quickly, and that is what we have to address ... everything is corroded," Heming said. "... Built in the 1970s, these types of structures have a history of sudden failure, and, as we all know, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the public."
She said crews will expedite the project by working 10 hours a day, Monday through Friday. If the project is delayed, they will seek permission to work weekends, hoping to have the temporary bridge installed by mid October.
The sidewalk will remain open.
Once the two-lane temporary bridge is in place, traffic should mostly return to normal. Heming noted that a full permanent replacement is still four or five years away.
The installation will impact access to East Road, but Heming said they have worked with the town to allow one-way access to East Road from Route 8 for emergency vehicles and snow removal.
"On paper it does not look good, but we are putting effort towards this to get this rolling and give one way access for emergency vehicles," she said.
Emergency service access was a primary concern for residents on East Road and on the other side of town, as East Road is often the quickest route.
Representatives from the fire department noted that a plan is in place and mutual aid partners are aware of the situation. The North Adams or Stamford fire departments may often have quicker response times.
Snow removal was another concern, with some residents feeling there would not be enough room to push snow.
Department of Public Works Foreman Kyle Hurlbut was not concerned, expressing confidence that plows could safely remove snow. He noted that even on narrow sections of East Road, changing the angle of the plow should suffice. If necessary, the DPW can utilize a loader to haul snow away.
The shift in traffic was troubling to attendees, and many residents felt that even with signage, issues would arise. One resident noted that during past road closures, driver inattention caused cars to slam on their brakes once they realized the road was blocked.
Neighbors living along the detour routes were concerned about heavy traffic and speeding vehicles traveling along 20–25 mph residential roads. Others noted the roads are windy, narrow, and lack sidewalks, creating safety hazards for pedestrians.
Select Board Chair Dan Haskins said the town has budgeted for additional State Police detail to maintain strict enforcement. The town is also exploring dropping the 35 mph speed limit on Henderson Road.
Neighbors expressed frustration over the prospect of heavy, loud vehicles detouring through their neighborhoods.
It was also noted that Daniels Road and Walker Street are already in poor condition, and residents expect the surface to deteriorate faster under increased traffic.
Heming said MassDOT will step in to address this, having planned repairs for a 1.5-mile stretch and pledging $300,000 to patch the most troublesome parts of the detour route.
"The current roads are not good; they need some work," she said. "So we will do something at the end so you will have better infrastructure when we leave
There was additional concern regarding the Henderson Road bridge and whether it could handle the heavy traffic load. Heming said no issues were flagged on their end, but she promised to double-check.
Residents asked if those living closest to the construction could be compensated by the state, especially if conditions become unlivable.
Heming explained that due to the emergency nature of the project, there is no mechanism for restitution, but noted this would be assessed during the full planning process preceding the permanent bridge replacement project.
The town may also temporarily implement alternative bus stops while the road is closed, which will be explored at a later date.
Generally, attendees felt the closure was sprung on them and requested earlier notification in the future, with some describing the timeline as hastily organized.
Heming reiterated that the sudden bridge failure dictated an emergency response, forcing MassDOT to bypass the standard planning process. She stressed that safety remains the top priority.
"We do understand that this is difficult...I tell people I wish I had a check book and do this all, but I have a boss in Boston too," she said. "I did take some notes, and we will do what we can to help. But the project will be done, and we hope to be in and out by Columbus Day.
Tags: bridge project,
