The Select Board has asked that the Department of Transportation eliminate a pedestrian bridge in favor of sidewalks in its plans to replace the Main Street bridge, effectively sending the project back to the drawing board.
During its meeting on Tuesday, the Peterborough Select Board noted that after discussions with the library trustees, and the town’s historical preservation interests, it was clear that there was a preference for widening the bridge to accommodate sidewalks on both sides, in addition to widening the bridge’s three lanes from 10 feet to 11 feet.
When the concept of a pedestrian bridge was first introduced, according to Town Administrator Rodney Bartlett, there was a plan to move the library building from its current location to central downtown, and the pedestrian bridge, which now would land on the library lawn, would connect the downtown to the green space left by the library. However, since that plan has been abandoned, and the pedestrian bridge would have significant impact on the view from the historic library lawn.
The DOT, however, has already been through an environmental impact process for a plan to replace the Main Street bridge, which includes a pedestrian bridge. Reopening that process could delay the project by as much as three to four months, said Bartlett. He told the board that after discussions with the Department of Transportation, there doesn’t seem to be any issues with doing so from a standpoint of procuring funding.
He added that the elimination of a permanent pedestrian bridge would overall have less environmental impact and would be less costly.
Bartlett told the board that although the town’s preference for a two-sidewalk bridge would be taken into consideration, reopening the process would mean an examination of other available options as well. There would also be a temporary pedestrian bridge installed during the construction of the new Main Street bridge.