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Peru board reviews 61-foot preformed bridge plan for Westcot Road culvert replacement
Summary
Engineers told the town board a single 61-foot preformed bridge could replace two failing culverts on Westcot Road to reduce excavation, shorten construction time and avoid a costly temporary road; permitting and interagency coordination remain required before final approval.
The Peru town board heard a presentation on a long-planned culvert replacement on Westcot Road and an engineering proposal to replace two aging culverts with a single longer-span preformed bridge.
The board's presenter, identified in the meeting as Mark, said the Salmon River crossing currently uses two 10-foot-diameter culverts and that Army Corps rules make the crossing wide enough to be treated as a bridge. He described a preformed 61-foot-span bridge product that can be set on concrete footings and poured in place, reducing deep excavation near the stream bank and limiting the need for a lengthy temporary road.
The presenter said the 61-foot span is intended to avoid excavation constraints and shoring that drove up costs on earlier designs; he noted the approach can shorten on-site construction time and reduce disturbance to the stream bank. He said the manufacturer and the town's structural team would coordinate footing design, and that the structure has been described by the presenter as suitable for all traffic classes typically encountered on rural town roads.
Board members pressed on schedule and permitting. The presenter said the manufacturer's lead time to deliver the engineered structure is about three months once the board gives a go-ahead to proceed with engineering, and that DEC and Army Corps permitting remain part of the approval sequence. He also said the method could allow construction without entering the streambed in ways that reduce seasonal timing pressures.
No formal vote was taken; the board asked staff to prepare a resolution and the materials needed for engineering and permitting next steps.
Looking ahead, the board asked for more detailed cost estimates and a draft resolution to authorize engineering so the town can move toward firm pricing and the required environmental reviews.
