Good News for Division Street: Temporary Bridge to Reopen By Summer

division street bridge from below

If all goes according to plan the Division Street bridge will reopen with a temporary span this summer.

The town has requested bids for the “Division Street Temporary Structure Replacement,” and the deadline for proposals is Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. 

The bridge was closed in 2019 due to a structural failure. The replacement project calls for demolishing the old structure and replacing it with a temporary span, which will remain in place until a permanent bridge is constructed.

The existing abutments will be modified to accommodate a one-lane modular truss bridge with a sidewalk, new guardrails and a one-way alternating traffic signal.

Division Street bridge photoSean Van Deusen, town public works superintendent, said replacing a bridge is complex due to state approvals needed from the state Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation, as well as a natural heritage review. Time-consuming design, engineering, funding approvals and public bidding procedures are also involved.

 "The town initiated this process quickly and we will reopen in the shortest feasible time frame," said Van Deusen. “We thank everyone for their patience with this process."

(Berkshire Eagle file photo)

The replacement plan is based on design and engineering by Tighe & Bond, and those plans can be found here.

The temporary structure is estimated to cost $4 million. The funds were approved by the Annual Town Meeting in 2019.

A permanent bridge replacement is contingent upon state or federal funding, which is several years away.

“Reopening the Division Street bridge is a top priority for the town, for both businesses and residents,” said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski.

The current bridge was built in 1950.