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Exeter residents press board to restore Park Street Bridge; town says it will work with NHDOT and CSX
Summary
Residents presented a 133-signature petition asking the Select Board to prioritize restoring the Park Street Bridge. Town officials said they are compiling engineering records, have engaged a bridge consultant, and will press NHDOT and CSX for options and a public plan; no final decision or funding commitment was made.
Residents pressed the Exeter Select Board on July 13 to restore the Park Street Bridge, delivering a petition the neighborhood said has 133 signatures and urging the town to develop a public action plan identifying who will pay, who is responsible, and how emergency access will be preserved.
Mark Furlong, speaking for the Park Street/Oak Street neighborhood group, read the petition and called on the town “to work with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, CSX, and all other parties to develop and present a clear public plan to repair, replace, or otherwise restore safe access over the Park Street Bridge.” He asked the board to identify ownership, funding options, design requirements, a feasible timeline, and interim safety measures while a long-term solution is developed.
Town officials said they are actively pursuing the information residents requested. Public Works Director Steve Cronin said the town has held a site meeting with VHB, the town’s bridge consultant, and is attempting to recover older analyses and capacity studies (including a 2004 study) from contractors and state archives. Cronin said the town has created a Park Street Bridge project page on the DPW projects site and will post documents there as they are located.
Town Manager Paul Cohen said structural reports and relevant state documents are being posted and reiterated that federal and state standards will likely require a substantially higher vertical clearance if the crossing is replaced. “Replacement or reconstruction is likely to require approximately 22 to 22.5 feet of clearance,” Cohen said, adding that a new crossing would be roughly 6 feet higher than the existing structure. He also noted the complication that a town water main runs across the bridge and that, according to town counsel, CSX would need approval from either NHDOT or the town to remove or alter the structure.
Residents urged both short-term and long-term remedies. Sally Ward said the petition is “a work in progress” and asked whether the town would consider temporary structural support so the bridge does not fail while a full plan is developed. Eileen Flockhart and other neighbors emphasized walkability, youth access to Main Street School, and the public-safety implications of an indefinite closure. Several speakers asked the board to keep public updates regular and to present a written action plan.
The Select Board made no funding commitment or final decision at the meeting. Chair (acting) said the board will continue to meet with counsel, NHDOT and the bridge consultant and will return to the public with further information. Officials said next steps include continued document recovery, detailed conversations with NHDOT to clarify the state’s role, and a subsequent, more informative meeting with CSX. The town encouraged residents to monitor the DPW project page for posted materials and updates.
The board emphasized they view the matter as a priority and that they will keep the neighborhood informed as the fact-finding and coordination continue.
