Town Bridge #10 on Grassy Brook Road in Brookline. (Zachary P. Stephens/Reformer) (Zachary P. Stephens)
Monday July 23, 2012

BROOKLINE -- People that live north of Town Bridge No. 10 in Brookline can expect to soon receive a letter from their Selectboard informing them the structure's deck will be replaced in early August.

Selectboard Chairman David Y. Parker Jr. said the bridge -- situated on Grassy Brook Road and known locally as Cornish Bridge -- will be closed to traffic on Monday, Aug. 6, and additional details will be given in the letter, expected early this week. The whole project, slated to be done by Daniels Construction in Ascutney, should take approximately two weeks, Parker said.

He said the goal is to have the construction work done by the time the school year begins on Tuesday, Aug. 28. Though no school buses drive across the bridge, Parker said many parents use it to bring their children to bus stops.

He said the existing abutments will still be used but a newly poured concrete deck, to be reinforced will steel, will go over the bridge. The Selectboard chairman said the current structure -- which provides north-south access through the town -- is severely deteriorated.

"The steel underneath it is in really bad shape," he said. Parker described the structure as having a wooden deck and gravel coating. He mentioned the bridge's weight limit was reduced to 16,000 pounds about a year ago, though overweight permits are attainable.

Parker said several residents raised concerns over the closure during Wednesday's regular Selectboard

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meeting. People wanted to know how fire, medical and police personnel will be dispatched to the other side of the bridge when it is under construction. Parker said the Selectboard has spoken with the NewBrook Fire & Rescue Department, which has made arrangements with Mutual Aid as well as the fire departments in Townshend, Athens, Saxtons River and Grafton. NewBrook services both Brookline and Newfane.

Parker said 911 will receive emergency calls as always and will dispatch accordingly.

"We've tried to cover all our bases," he said.

Parker said the Selectboard realizes the inconvenience this construction will pose for those living north of the bridge but that the work must be done immediately. He said Daniels Construction will post detour signs around town, starting at the flea market on Route 30.

Matt Belden of Daniels Construction said the bridge work will likely take two weeks to compete, with an additional week needed to allow the concrete to cure.

"We don't anticipate any problems," he said on Friday. "It's a simple little bridge."

Belden said the company worked on the same road last year, about five miles from the bridge.

Parker said Daniels did a great job with the previous project and picking the company again was an easy choice.

Domenic Poli can be reached at dpoli@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311, ext. 277.