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Date: 10/26/2022
BELCHERTOWN – The Belchertown trestle bridge will be evaluated for repair/replacement thanks to Norwottuck Network Inc. and Friends of the Belchertown Greenway.
In 2019, Conservation Works did a preliminary assessment inspected the 3.2 miles of railroad right-of-way between Springfield Road and Route 181 as a potential addition to the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT). This included the railroad bridge that the trail crosses over Jabish Brook.
The report deemed the bridge sound but that an assessment by a structural engineer was warranted before plans to use the structure as part of the MCRT are proposed.
The trail is used by many residents to walk, run and socialize.
The Friends of the Belchertown Greenway organization is made up of residents who are willing to help maintain and develop the town-owned former railroad corridor. Their goal is to create safe and clean resource that will be attractive and popular.
They received a quote for an estimated $4,000 to get engineers to do an initial site visit and evaluate the condition of the bridge. They sent in a proposal to the Norwottuck Network to receive a grant to cover the cost of the evaluation.
The Norwottuck Network is a nonprofit corporation that supports the build-out and operation of the MCRT, the longest rail trail in New England. They offer small project grants along the corridor as well as small, quick, targeted feasibility studies for future connections along the rail-to-trail linear corridor parks.
The Norwottuck Network Board agreed to donate $2,000 to the town of Belchertown toward this project when the town was able to raise $2,000 of their own to match the donation.
Martha DuroShea started a GoFundMe in April to raise the money to match the grant.
After six months, the $2,000 goal has been reached and the Friends of Belchertown Greenway will be looking for and hiring an engineering firm to do a structural analysis of the bridge.