BERNARDSTON — Fifteen of Bernardston’s 584 water crossings have been identified as needing to be replaced within the next year, according to a maintenance plan developed by the engineering consulting service Stantec.
The priority list of culverts, which was recently presented to the Selectboard, would cost $105,550 for the Highway Department to do the work in-house, and $145,915 to hire a contractor. However, the two prices include the cost to replace a Fox Hill Road culvert that has already been done.
The 15 culverts, Town Coordinator Hugh Campbell said, were among around 90 that were reviewed by Stantec, having been identified by the Highway Department as being in poor or very poor condition. The primary problem, he said, is corrosion, as the majority of the culverts are metal and were installed in the 1970s.
Currently, Campbell said, the Highway Department replaces the culverts as needed using emergency funds, but the priority list will allow for a more planned approach. The priority list will be considered when crafting next fiscal year’s budget.
“We’ll see if it makes the cut,” Campbell said. “With any luck, none of these will fail in the meantime. If so, the Highway Department will address them immediately.”
Once replaced, the culverts would be plastic instead of metal, Campbell said. Additionally, to meet new standards, all would be at least 18 inches in diameter, whereas currently some are less than 12 inches in diameter. Larger culverts would allow for better flow and less frequent blockages, which are often a problem after heavy rain, he said.
Having Stantec develop a culvert replacement plan was covered by $19,500 of grant assistance through the Community Compact program.
Bernardston also received a $74,930 Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant in September to cover engineering, design and environmental permitting for the concrete culvert covered by a bridge on Eden Trail, which was not included on the priority list and is a separate project. Campbell said previously he intends to apply for another grant, also through the Division of Ecological Resources, to offset construction costs.
Reach Shelby Ashline at:
sashline@recorder.com
413-772-0261 ext. 257