MONTAGUE — Residents curious to hear updates about the General Pierce Bridge are in luck — a public information session about the bridge’s rehabilitation is scheduled for next month.
The meeting is set for Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Shea Theater Arts Center, 71 Avenue A.
Representatives from the state Department of Transportation (commonly called MassDOT) will present the design and the construction plan, and it will be a chance for residents and town officials to ask questions.
A snow date is set for Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. at Turners Falls High School, 222 Turnpike Road.
The General Pierce Bridge links Montague City and Greenfield across the Connecticut River. Since the end of June, it has been reduced to a single lane of traffic, alternating one way at a time, sometimes leading to traffic backups. At the time, MassDOT said the change was to ensure the structural integrity of the bridge.
Since then, drivers who want to avoid slowdowns have had to take detours to cross the river. The Turners Falls-Gill Bridge is rarely congested, but using it to get between Greenfield and Montague via Route 2 takes longer. There’s also the option of using the white bridge off Fifth Street.
MassDOT, which operates the General Pierce Bridge, is in its design phase, but has not announced dates for construction or completion of the project, said Montague Town Administrator Steve Ellis.
“Even if the project is delayed a few months, just the fact that we’re starting the steps of public engagement to make things happen is a huge step in the right direction,” Ellis said. “I think DOT is taking a really proactive stance in its communication related to this process.”
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 261.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly indicated an end date for the General Pierce Bridge’s full rehabilitation.