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Conservation director seeks $85,000 to replace collapsed Piccadilly Brook bridge
Summary
Conservation Director Jennifer Miller described the collapsed pedestrian bridge at Piccadilly Brook, recommended a flat-deck fiberglass replacement with concrete abutments for flood resilience and ADA improvements, and the finance committee recommended $85,000 as part of its ARPA package.
Jennifer Miller, Conservation Director, told the Advisory Finance Committee on Nov. 18 that a decades-old pedestrian bridge over Piccadilly Brook failed earlier in the year and was removed for safety. Miller presented a proposed replacement: a roughly 30-foot by 5-foot flat-deck bridge with concrete abutments, anchoring for flood resilience, code-compliant handrails and ADA-oriented grading that would restore a popular loop trail and reduce safety risks near the town’s drinking-water supply feeder.
Miller described options and costs: a fiberglass truss kit (to extend useful life) and concrete abutments were outlined, with line items the presenter described as roughly $21,000 for structural members, about $15,500 for abutments and approximately $38,000 for fabrication and installation. Miller said she originally sized the project near $75,000 but increased it to about $85,000 to move to a fiberglass option that engineers recommended for durability and longevity.
Committee members asked about load design (snow and pedestrian loads, AASHTO compliance) and whether stewardship groups or volunteer efforts could help fund smaller conservation-area projects. Miller said stewardship funds and volunteer work help on small projects, but larger bridge work typically requires contracted services and paid construction to meet code and longevity goals.
The finance committee included the $85,000 bridge request in its bundled ARPA recommendation to the Select Board (block motion passed 9–0–0). If the Select Board approves the allocation, the Conservation Department will follow procurement rules and return project details for contractor selection and construction timing.
