Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bridges Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Sheffield board for emergency action on Kellogg Road Bridge as town stresses state control
Summary
Residents urged the Sheffield Select Board to fast-track emergency repairs to the closed Kellogg Road Bridge and demanded documentation of the bridge’s status on the state TIP list; the board said the bridge is state-managed, that it has advocated with MassDOT, and pledged to verify TIP-list status and follow up with residents.
Residents at a Sheffield Select Board meeting pressed town leaders to treat the closed Kellogg Road Bridge as an emergency and to pursue fast-tracked repairs, while board members said the state controls bridge inspection and replacement decisions and that the town’s options are limited.
The meeting’s public-comment period featured multiple speakers who described the bridge as a public-safety and economic concern and urged quick action. One resident said the Brookside Bridge is “complete junk” and urged the board to “put the pressure on” to get repairs done faster. Commenters asked the board to produce inspection reports going back to 2014, to confirm whether Kellogg is on the state TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) list, and to consider convening a special town meeting to authorize local funds or borrowing for emergency repairs.
Why it matters: The closed bridge affects emergency-response routes and daily travel for residents on the far side of the river, who warned that longer response times could have life‑threatening consequences. Residents proposed options including emergency concrete encasement repairs described by the state, temporary one‑lane structures (often called Bailey bridges), or creating a town rain‑y day bridge-repair fund to finance rapid fixes if state timelines are long.
Board response and next steps: A Select Board speaker said Sheffield has followed the established process—working with state inspectors, placing the bridge on the TIP list and requesting state funding—and reiterated that town crews cannot undertake structural repairs without state approval. The board pledged to verify the town’s TIP-list status and to provide the requested historical inspection reports. On procedural questions about emergency repairs, the board said the state previously offered an option to engineer and repair the bridge within 30 days or to close it, and that any temporary repair could affect the town’s priority on state lists.
What residents asked for: Callers requested (1) confirmation of the bridge’s TIP-list placement and projected replacement date; (2) copies of prior inspection reports (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and later); (3) consideration of a special town meeting to authorize local funding or borrowing; and (4) a dedicated town point person to pursue grants and applications.
Documentation and funding: Speakers referenced state funding streams (including a $375 million state bridge program announced in 2023) and FEMA grant possibilities for emergency staffing or equipment. The board said it would check all available funding avenues and report back to the public.
The board closed the meeting after promising follow-up: staff will verify TIP-list status, locate historical inspection reports, and look into state and federal funding options. No formal vote to change the town’s course on the bridge was taken during the meeting.
