COLRAIN — A debate over potentially reopening the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge to vehicular traffic could end Saturday with an Annual Town Meeting vote.
The historic bridge on Lyonsville Road has been closed to vehicular traffic since the early 1980s, according to Jonathan LaGreze, chair of the Friends of the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge. Although the bridge underwent a restoration in 2007, it never reopened.
Over the years, residents have debated the feasibility of reopening the bridge to vehicular traffic.
Voters’ approval on Article 36, which was submitted by citizen’s petition, would ultimately authorize the Selectboard to set times and conditions under which vehicles may pass through the bridge, and to authorize measures — such as speed bumps or additional signs — to ensure vehicles abide by the rules.
Similarly, Article 37 seeks to designate the town-owned land on Lyonsville Road, on the west side of the bridge, as a town park.
LaGreze, who submitted both petitions with help from the Historical Commission and Historical Society, explained the vision for the bridge is to allow vehicular access to the proposed town park. In other words, the road would be closed to through traffic.
“The manner (of access) is left to them,” LaGreze noted, adding that the Selectboard has the power to authorize reopening it to through traffic, rather than just for park access, if it chooses. “The sense was if the town spoke, they would listen.”
Fire Chief Nicholas Anzuoni, who had previously spoken against reopening the bridge to traffic, said his concerns for allowing vehicular traffic through the bridge remain the same.
He also referenced a letter from a bridge engineer with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, who advised against reopening the bridge because of design issues. Anzuoni noted concerns that a vehicle crashing on the bridge could potentially cause significant damage.
As for the park mentioned in Article 37, LaGreze said the vision is to install historical information signs using money that was raised over 30 years ago for the bridge.
Of the two articles, he said, approval for the park is the more critical of the two.
“This town is one of the few towns around … that doesn’t have a sort of pavilion or bandstand — a gathering space,” LaGreze said. “And I think this is a very nice opportunity to build town spirit and show off something that we’re very proud of.”
The meeting on Saturday is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on the grounds of the Town Office. Chairs will be available, but voters are also encouraged to bring their own. Masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged.
In other town business, voters will be also be asked to approve a $1.7 million budget.
According to Town Coordinator Kevin Fox, the town operating budget was carefully developed with department heads and vetted by the Finance Committee.
Voters will also be asked to approve appropriating roughly $2.1 million for Colrain’s contribution to the Mohawk Trail Regional School District’s operating budget, and roughly $58,000 to support the district’s capital budget.
Additionally, voters will be asked to approve the transfer of $103,000 in free cash to purchase a new truck for the Highway Department, and $16,300 in free cash to purchase two new Highway Department plows.
Another article asks voters to approve transferring $7,000 from free cash to purchase and install a new carport for the Colrain Police and Fire departments.
While at Town Meeting, attendees can purchase T-shirts designed by students for the Friends of the Covered Bridge’s Covered Bridge Totes & Tees Design Contest, an art contest to benefit the Colrain Historical Society and Colrain Central School. For more information on the winners and their T-shirt designs, residents can visit colraintees.weebly.com.
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263. Twitter: @MaryEByrne