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Nelson officials hear repair options for Bailey Brook Bridge after withdrawing from 80/20 grant
Summary
At the Feb. 4 meeting the Nelson Selectmen heard from M. Tarr that the State DOT is requesting a plan after the town withdrew from an 80/20 bridge grant; an engineer will explore repair options and the town weighed enforcement and access implications of a possible weight limit.
At its Feb. 4 meeting the Town of Nelson Selectmen heard an update on repair options for the Bailey Brook Bridge after the town withdrew from an 80/20 grant. M. Tarr told the board that the State Department of Transportation is requesting a plan of action and that an engineer has proposed multiple possible repair approaches rather than a single definitive plan.
Tarr described the work done in 2015 as a "temporary long-term repair," and said he will ask the engineer to meet with the board and to contact the State engineer to determine which options the DOT would consider acceptable to extend the bridge's service life. He also noted the town still holds special bridge grant funds that could be used for the project, including funds earmarked for an engineering plan.
Board members discussed the trade-offs between restricting loads and maintaining emergency and maintenance access. Tarr cautioned that "enforcement would be difficult and could then limit emergency vehicles and town plow trucks as well," a constraint the board said it must weigh as it considers repair scopes or load restrictions. No formal decision or vote on a specific repair approach was taken; the next procedural step is for the engineer to meet with the board and to confer with the State engineer about acceptable repair standards.
