Peterborough voters approved millions of dollars for projects this year, including the renovation and expansion of the town library and the Main Street Bridge reconstruction. The town also finally began work on the construction of a new parking lot and footbridge downtown.
Peterborough voters agreed to contribute $3 million to a $8.5 million renovation and addition to the Peterborough Public Library. The library has been vigorously campaigning to meet the rest of its goal, and currently still about $1 million short. Library Director Corinne Chronopoulos said she hopes to have enough money pledged or in hand by the end of January to confirm the library’s temporary move to Vose Farm Road this spring while a new addition is constructed onto the existing library.
The project will also design, engineer and construct major renovations to the interior and exterior of the library, including overhauling the building’s heating and cooling system and making it more accessible for those with mobility disabilities.
The library is in the midst of several last-minute campaign to generate private donations. An anonymous donor has agreed to match $1,000 for every donation above $1,000 given during the library’s “Cast of Thousands” campaign. All of the donors who contribute to this campaign will be added to a plaque above the computer bank. The library is also asking for its users to donate. Currently, 328 people from Peterborough or Sharon have contributed individual donations. The library is seeking to double that number. The library is also seeking corporate donations and is still applying for grants.
“We’re confident we’re going to get there,” Chronopoulos said. “We’re going to keep going.”
All funds must be raised or pledged before construction can begin, Chronopoulos said. She hopes to have funds raised by the early part of 2019. If fundraising stays on track, the library will be moved to a new location, tentatively planned to be 1 Vose Farm Road, during the construction period. Construction is planned to take a little over a year, and will coincide with another major project taking place just outside the library doors – the reconstruction of the Main Street Bridge.
The bridge reconstruction is funded 80 percent by the Federal Highway Administration and 20 percent by the town of Peterborough. Of the total $5.97 million cost, Peterborough is responsible for $1.19 million. May Town Meeting approved a bond to pay the town’s portion.
Town Administrator Rodney Bartlett said the bridge work is on track to go out to bid in February, and the work will be awarded to the winning contractor in April. Work is expected to begin in early summer, likely June, Bartlett said. At the same time the bridge repair will be going on, the town will also be repairing the Transcript Dam, which is adjacent to the bridge. The town approved a $300,000 warrant article for the work in May.
During the construction, the bridge will be closed, cutting off downtown Peterborough from direct access to Concord Street, which has caused concern over maintaining a flow of customers to Peterborough’s Main Street, Grove Street and Depot Square shops.
This year, Peterborough began building a $1.1 million parking lot on Grove Street, behind Post and Beam Brewing, that will serve as additional all-day parking, and installed a bridge connecting the parking lot to Depot Park to give easy access for shopping. Weather delayed completion of the project whish is now expected to be completed this spring.
“The bridge is in, you just can’t use it yet,” Bartlett joked during a recent Select Board meeting.