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East Street Bridge repairs could cost more than $1 million

Date: 4/2/2015

WILBRAHAM – Red Bridge Road, a main route over the Chicopee River, connecting Ludlow and Wilbraham, was recently closed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) due to one of its bridges being deemed unsafe.  

Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Edmond Miga Jr. told Reminder Publications the nearly 80-year-old, 160-foot-long two span bridge could cost “well over $1 million” to repair through the use of state funds.  

“It’s a failure of the abutment on the Wilbraham side of the bridge and the expansion joint that’s there on the bridge,” he said. “So, the substructure, the steel beams that go across the river that support the bridge; they sit on the concrete abutment [that] has deteriorated to a point where it’s no longer supporting the beam.”

The damage to the bridge is located behind the beam and cannot be easily seen, he noted. At one point, a large piece of concrete fell off the abutment.

Miga said heavy trucks driving across the bridge could “exasperate” the situation and potentially lead to a support beam falling. The bridge also saw increased deterioration this past winter.  

“Mother Nature was not kind to this bridge this winter,” he added. “We’ve recorded five feet of frost. The water penetrated the expansion joint on the bridge and made its way behind the abutment. Of course, with the severe cold weather, it really sped up the deterioration underneath on the concrete.”

When MassDOT inspected the bridge in the summer of 2014, it determined it should be reduced to one lane.

The town hired a consultant in 2006 to draft plans to repair the bridge, he added. In 2009, an adjacent bridge across the canal was completely refurbished.

“When we were doing that bridge, we tried our best to have the East Street Bridge, which is the bridge that is closed now, done at the same time,” Miga explained. “We were at 60 percent in 2009 for this bridge. The project review committee decided there wasn’t the funding in place [and] they weren’t going to combine the two bridges at that time.”

In 2009, the towns of Ludlow and Wilbraham also paid to have an additional support column installed underneath the East Street Bridge to temporarily fix the deteriorating area, he added.

“That’s where we stood in 2009 and we were told that the bridge was put on a list for repair,” Miga said.

The bid date for the project was originally for 2014 during this time, he noted. Later, the DPW found that date was changed to 2017 when “2014 came and went.”

Miga said he spoke with Michael Clark, chief of staff for state Sen. Eric Lesser, on March 27 about the bridge closure.

“[Lesser’s office is] going to reach out to [the MassDOT?Highway Division] to find out anything more that he can find out to help us on determining where this bridge is in the queue to be repaired,” Miga added.

The bridge is located in the northern corner of Wilbraham and is also a vital route for residents of Palmer and Ludlow, he added.

“A lot of traffic comes from Palmer,” Miga explained. “So, [Lesser’s office] is going to reach out to [state Sen. Stephen Brewer]. So, we’re using our political avenue to help expedite, if we can, the repairs on this bridge.”

Miga said he will meet with the consultant who began drafting plans in 2006 the week of March 30.

“We’re meeting with him to discuss the closure of the bridge, to actually do a site visit of the bridge [and] to see if we can do something in the interim to reopen it possibly,” he added. “This is going to be a coordinated effort between Wilbraham and Ludlow.”

Federal aid money could be utilized for the bridge’s repair, Miga said. However, the state would make decisions about the project. The program for funding is yet to be determined.

Bridge projects typically take a decade or more to complete, he noted.

For now, the DPW lists various detours while the road and bridge remain closed.
From Palmer to Wilbraham, either take Route 20 directly to Wilbraham or take Three Rivers Road to Maynard Road to Boston Road. From Wilbraham to Palmer, follow Route 20 directly to Palmer or follow Route 20 to Maynard Road to Three Rivers Road.

Lastly, from Wilbraham to Ludlow, follow Route 20 to Cottage Avenue to Miller Street to Center Street.