Selectmen Consider Boston Neck Bridge Plans

The Suffield Board of Selectmen received a report from Town Engineer Gerry Turbet on the status of the bridge over Boston Neck Road and discussed the best course of action for repairs or replacement.

The selectmen expressed support for repairing the bridge, which was closed Monday due to a piece of the structure falling into the water below. While both repair and replacement would cost the town roughly the same amount, around $900,000 based on preliminary estimates, the repair option could have the current, one-lane bridge open years ahead of a full replacement.

A replacement involves using a state program that was described as possibly taking between five and eight years, according to Turbet.

“It’s a very structured and long process,” Turbet said.

A replacement would widen the bridge to two lanes but the necessary permits, inspections, land claim issues, presence of sewage and water lines next to the bridge and other concerns would likely mean a long wait. Replacing the bridge’s deck, which is the affected piece of the structure, and reopening the bridge could take as little as year, with considerable fast tracking of the process.

The bridge allows easy access between South Main Street and East Street South (Route 159). The selectmen noted that the impact of the closure on residents of Kent Avenue and Boston Neck Road and the side streets off of those roads is a factor in the decision process.

Whil the process is still in its early stages and the plan could change, Turbet and First Selectman Ed McAnaney are gathering information about possible fixes for the bridge.

The selectmen also discussed whether or not the newly signed mobile phone tower contract needs to be presented at a town meeting, with the issue going to the town attorney for another opinion.