The Main Street Bridge rehabilitation project in Peterborough should be completed by the end of the summer, according to Peterborough Director of Public Works Seth MacLean.
The project, which is in its final phases MacLean said, was started in January 2020. The cost to build the bridge was $6.6 million and the cost of the Route 202 retaining wall is $8.2 million. MacLean said Peterborough taxpayers are only responsible for $1.3 million toward the bridge because state and federal funds are covering all of the retaining wall work and 80 percent of the bridge work.
The initial deadline for completion of May 1 was delayed due to COVID-19 and severe weather.
MacLean said the work being done involves finishing the aesthetic stone facing that runs along the Contoocock River and that the project is still under budget. The temporary pedestrian bridge has also been removed.
“The bulk of the construction is completed and it’s mostly punch list work at this point,” MacLean said, referring to minor tweaks that need to be addressed. “My expectation is that the work will be complete by the tail end of summer.”
A question posted on “Peterborough, NH,” a Facebook page with more than 7,000 members., asking what the “completion of the bridge means for you” and how it has “impacted your life” garnered a number of responses.
Kathleen Brewer stated “Pride in preservation of bridge history.” She added that the “Impressive stone wall makes the trip joyful over the bridge, which was well done! Would like WMUR to do a ‘Chronicle’ story on this, with Fritz Wetherbee’s historical note!”
Elaine Marie stated, “Looks great. Well worth any delays we had because of construction.”
For Christine Halvorson, the bridge’s first phases of construction provided a way for those living nearby to stay in touch at the beginning of the pandemic.
“The project gave those of us who live nearby something to do when there was nothing else allowed,” Halvorson stated. “We remarked on each phase, each change, who was doing flag duty or whatever, truly. It was ‘nice’ to have it going on during those dark days of being unable to visit with actual people.”
And Aidan Russel asked, “Do we get compensation if it has impacted our lives.”
Other projects on the horizon and those ongoing for the DPW include the creation of design plans for a new fire station, which MacLean said could happen this fall, as well as ongoing paving projects and the Cold Springs well project near the Town of Sharon.