SHELBURNE FALLS — With the nearly $3.2 million repair project at the Bridge of Flowers complete and the bridge reopened, the community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate on Monday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m. near Buckland Town Hall.
State and local officials and others who worked on the project in various capacities are expected to attend to offer comments. Speakers include Ashley Stolba, interim secretary of the state Executive Office of Economic Development; state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield; engineers Zach Chornyak and Andrea Lacasse of Tighe & Bond; Franklin Regional Council of Governments Director of Planning Jessica Atwood; Shelburne Falls Water Commission Chair Ron Dobosz; and Bridge of Flowers Committee Co-Chair Annette Szpila.
The bridge has seen nearly 5,000 visitors sign the guest book since it reopened quietly on July 11. Visitors have come from as far away as Norway, Japan, Brazil and the United Arab Republic, as well as from across the United States. Now that the repairs are complete, the bridge will be open through the end of October before closing for the season.
Village businesses are celebrating the reopening Monday with a variety of special activities, and painters from the Amherst Plein Air Society will attend to depict the event.
