MONTAGUE CENTER — The pedestrian and bike path that has been under construction on Old Greenfield Road will formally open on Saturday.
The trail replaces a vehicle overpass bridge that was taken down 17 years ago for safety concerns.
Tom Bergeron, superintendent of the Montague Department of Public Works, said the town went through the final checklist with the State Department of Transportation, who has been handling the project, creating a new foot bridge over the railroad tracks.
He said the poles and gate will be installed this week and the DOT is finishing up small parts of the job. Construction on the bridge and bike path began in late September.
“The Town of Montague is pleased to have achieved a permanent solution that restores pedestrian and bike passage through this section of the Franklin County Bikeway,” Town Administrator Steve Ellis said. “The design of the bridge and its approaches reflect the rural character of the area and we encourage the public to enjoy this new feature of our community.”
According to design plans on the town website, the prefabricated steel bridge will span a length of about 200 feet.
The trail connects to the Canalside Rail Trail in Montague and Greenfield Road.
The trail is part of a larger DOT project on Hatchery and Greenfield roads that cost about $2.6 million in state funds.
In April 1999, a shifting of abutments caused the roadway on the railroad overpass to crack and buckle, while pulling the railing away from the bridge. It was immediately closed and taken down, so that trains could pass safely beneath it.
Reach Miranda Davis
at 413-772-0261, ext. 280 or mdavis@recorder.com.