Northampton officials propose removing failed Old Wilson Road culvert, restoring stream and adding pedestrian access

Northampton officials on Dec. 16 laid out plans to permanently remove a collapsed culvert on Old Wilson Road, reopen the stream channel and replace the vehicular crossing with pedestrian and bicycle connections.

Donna Lascaglia, director of public works and chair of the Transportation and Parking Commission, said the culvert’s structural integrity is compromised and "I don't feel comfortable reopening the roadway, so it will remain blocked." Planning staff described a project that would restore the stream through the former Pine Grove Golf Course property, add a pedestrian bridge and trail connections and leave vehicular access closed at the culvert site.

Carolyn Mich, director of planning and sustainability, said the city has pursued ecological restoration since acquiring the roughly 100-acre former golf course and that state grants funded designs and bid documents for the stream-restoration approach. "This project really is about infrastructure, reinvestment and rethinking about how we use our infrastructure, also ecological restoration that's connected to the former Pine Grove Golf Course which is now public open space," Mich said during the presentation.

Mich told the commission a fall cost estimate by the design team put the removal-and-restoration segment at "just over $300,000." She said the design and construction administration were paid for by a state grant; construction and any city outlay would need to come from the stormwater enterprise. Lascaglia added the stormwater enterprise must pay for work at this location and cautioned the enterprise has limited annual capital available.

Staff described a conceptual lot and short turnarounds on either side of the restored crossing, with a primary parking area on the southwest side of the stream. Mich said the conceptual plan now calls for 15 parking spaces, including two accessible spaces, rather than the 20 spaces shown in earlier concept drawings.

Commissioners discussed alternatives including replacing the culvert with a larger structure or bridge. Mich and Lascaglia said modern stream-crossing standards and wetland constraints make like-for-like replacement costly and often require building the equivalent of a bridge; Mich said higher permitting and design standards are driving some communities to favor culvert removal and stream restoration where vehicle traffic volumes are low.

Residents who live along the corridor largely voiced support. Bridal Adams and Maury Phippen, of 254 Old Wilson Road, thanked the city but urged staff to consider beaver activity that can dam the brook and to re-evaluate whether 20 parking spaces are necessary. Jan and Harry Becker, who live on the Route 66 side, also expressed support and asked that the bridge and the barriers intended to block vehicles allow access for people using wheelchairs. Mich said staff will "double check the construction plans to ensure" ADA access and that the design team has been asked to include accessible design details.

No formal vote was taken; staff said they intend to move quickly on repairs and will keep the commission posted on progress and next steps.

The commission meeting adjourned after the discussion. Staff identified the state-funded design and the stormwater enterprise as the primary funding players for the next phases of work.