This past summer the Lincoln Street pedestrian
bridge was hit by a truck. After
inspection by a Massachusetts Department of Transportation structural
engineer, it was recommended that due to the structural damage the bridge be
closed until repair. Since then, MERSD
has been working in collaboration with Manchester and Essex town boards to
investigate repair and reconstruction options.
At question is whether to simply return the bridge to a functional state
or increase the height of the bridge to decrease the potential of future
accidents. Pursuing an improvement
option presents funding questions for the towns and the school district. Insurance will typically reimburse repairs to
bring an asset back to its pre-accident condition, leaving the owner with the
cost of any improvements. The bridge is
owned by the town of Manchester and leased by MERSD. As the lessee, MERSD is responsible for maintenance
of the bridge, meaning that repair costs in excess of any insurance reimbursement
are shared by both towns. The estimated cost of repair and improvement ranges
from $80,000 - $150,000. The scope of the project requires that we seek design
plans and bids for work. We will be soliciting
proposals over the next month and making a determination as to how to proceed
in April. It is our hope that the work
will be completed over the summer and the bridge will be back online for the
opening of the school year.
