Work to Peterborough’s Union Street Bridge has been substantially completed, with project costs estimated to come in $30,000 less than the $1.4 million bid price.
Peterborough DPW Operations Manager Seth MacLean said Wednesday that a final walk through will occur this week to ensure that everything is completed as bid. The bridge has been under construction since April.
“It’s been a great project,” said MacLean. “We are happy to see everything wrapped up in one construction season.”
MacLean said the project was originally put out to bid as a two year project, but Cold River Bridges of Walpole was able to complete the project in one construction season, which was originally stated in their bid.
Minor work to the bridge, such as stabilizing disturbed areas, sealing joints, and clean up, is to be completed in the spring of 2017 after the snow melts, according to MacLean.
Union Street Bridge is about a half-mile from Dublin Road and is suspended over Nubanusit Brook. The bridge provides the only crossing over the brook in West Peterborough.
On average, over 1,300 vehicle travel over the bridge every day, according to project engineering firm Hoyle, Tanner, and Associates.
Built in 1937, the bridge was placed on the N.H. DOT’s red-list because it is structurally deficient. Concrete on the bridge began to crack after repeated exposure to de-icing chemicals.
The concrete top slab, sidewalk, and parapet walls were replaced and repairs were made to the existing rigid frame legs and wing walls. The existing stone facing was removed, mapped, and reset back onto the bridge.
The bridge was repaired in two phases, reducing traffic on the bridge to one lane of travel throughout construction.
To assist with traffic, temporary traffic signals were installed on March 29. Additionally, a temporary pedestrian crossing was also installed, as sidewalks on the bridge were closed during construction.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.