Construction repair to Peterborough’s historic Union Street Bridge is running on schedule, according to town officials.
The 79-year-old crossing is restricted to one-lane traffic while crews work to repair its supports and facade. They are on track to complete heavy construction by the end of the year, with final work coming in the spring.
“The project is on schedule,” Seth MacLean, operations manager with the Peterborough Department of Public Works, said in an email. “The expected completion date [is] still projected to be early 2017.”
The traffic consequences of the project began with slowing on March 29 and cutting the bridge to one lane shortly thereafter.
According to MacLean, physical work to the roadway began on April 14 after the contractor, Cold River Bridges won the contract in early 2016.
Before construction began, Hoyle, Tanner and Associates, the engineering firm overseeing the repairs, said about 1,300 vehicles pass over the bridge every day.
Part of that traffic was to Piggy’s Goods, a consignment store on Union Street. Tina Palmer of Piggy’s said business suffered at the beginning, but that things have improved.
“Once everyone has figured out the detours and extra signage we’re pretty much back to normal,” she said.
The sidewalk is also closed, but a temporary pedestrian walkway was constructed adjacent to the bridge.
“The guys working on the bridge couldn’t be nicer,” Palmer said. “They’re really empathetic, they know it’s been a challenge.”
Over the next few weeks, Cold River Bridges will complete a few stages of the construction, according to MacLean.
The crew will finish installing reinforcing steel, pouring concrete for the upstream side of the bridge, and resetting the stone fascia on that side. The 24-foot-wide bridge crosses the Nubanusit Brook in West Peterborough. It was deemed structurally deficient by the state Department of Transportation.