Zoning board continues Sherman’s Bridge rehabilitation to July after permitting and preservation concerns

The Sudbury Zoning Board of Appeals on June 1 continued the public hearing for a joint Sudbury–Wayland plan to rehabilitate Sherman’s Bridge on Lincoln Road, citing outstanding state and federal permits and concerns raised by residents about materials, historic views and floodplain impacts.

Tina Rivard, Sudbury’s director of public works, said the project—developed in coordination with Wayland and engineering firm TEC—would replace or rehabilitate the bridge deck and upgrade railings to meet current crash‑test standards. TEC engineers said a crash‑tested railing requires a glulam deck and a 3‑inch increase in deck thickness; because the bridge sits in the floodplain and floodway the 3‑inch rise constitutes fill and triggers zoning review. The team reported the project would introduce approximately 270 cubic feet of fill in Sudbury and 555 cubic feet total between Sudbury and Wayland. Modeling, they said, shows less than one‑tenth of a foot rise in a 100‑year flood event and they are relying on or will obtain a FEMA no‑rise certificate as part of the floodway review.

Board members asked about materials, traffic impacts during construction and the status of required permits. TEC representatives said the design uses wood decking and glulam components rather than a steel bridge structure, and that the roadway would be closed during construction while the boat launch area on the Wayland side would remain open. The Sudbury Historical Commission had reviewed the design and both towns’ historical commissions are coordinating on kiosk and final historical details, the team said. Pete Engle identified the Army Corps PCN along with conservation approvals as key outstanding federal and state items.

Chair Frank Riepe said the board should continue the hearing until required approvals are in hand and the hearing was continued to the July meeting. When the hearing was briefly reopened for public comment, Elisa Carter of Sherman Bridge Road (Wayland) urged consideration of a wood‑only repair alternative and raised concerns about traffic, historic road context, flood risk and possible chemical impacts from glulam materials. Alicia Carrillo of Basswood Avenue urged preservation of scenic and historic qualities, supported dark‑sky lighting and lower vehicle speeds.

The board voted to continue the matter to the July meeting; no approval or final design decision was recorded on June 1.