Bridge build to shake up Main Street

The Agency of Transportation plans on turning Main Street into a one-way street starting this spring to accommodate the rebuilding of the Community Center Bridge, according to Roger Whitcomb, an engineer with the Agency of Transportation.
Bridge build to shake up Main Street
By Susan Smallheer Herald Staff - Published: January 31, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Main Street won't be the same this summer.

The Agency of Transportation plans on turning Main Street into a one-way street starting this spring to accommodate the rebuilding of the Community Center Bridge, according to Roger Whitcomb, an engineer with the Agency of Transportation.

Whitcomb told the Springfield Select Board this week that construction on the bridge would probably start in April, and that the approved detour traffic pattern would create a "roundabout" including Mineral Street, Factory Street, a small section of Park Street, and one-way traffic on Main Street from the intersection with Park and Summer Street, down to the Community Center.

Whitcomb said the detour was less than a mile, but he said the state would be working hard to keep all large truck traffic out of downtown Springfield for the duration of the project. He said signs would be posted all over the region alerting truckers to the detour.

Parking along the west side of Main Street in the vicinity of the SEVCA Good-Buy Store will be changed from parallel to angled parking, and the middle turn lane will be eliminated, he said.

That change is designed to push traffic away from the curb so there is an easier turning radius onto Park Street, the engineer said.

Additionally, both the town and state want to keep heavy trucks off the Park Street Bridge, Whitcomb said.

Whitcomb said the state would start work on the upstream side of the bridge first, and then switch to the other side. In all, he estimated it would take until November to complete the project.

Mark Blanchard, chairman of the Springfield Select Board, said he wanted the Park Street Bridge, which spans Comtu Falls, to be inspected before the detour started, since the state will be responsible for any deteriorating or damage to the bridge during the construction project.

"People will learn quickly they don't want to come down Park," Whitcomb said.

"It's the visitors that will have problems," said Select Board member Michael Knoras, noting that "the locals will be OK."

The Select Board voted 4-1 to go along with one of Whitcomb's suggestions that would eliminate a left-land turn from Clinton Street up South Street Hill. Motorists will instead have to complete the detour or find another route. Select Board member John Swanson opposed the move.

Whitcomb said most truck traffic will be diverted to Route 103 in Chester, which is a designated state truck route, he said.

Whitcomb said the state considered building a temporary bridge next to the existing bridge to accommodate traffic, but rejected that idea because of cost and problems getting a right of way.