TURNERS FALLS — The pedestrian bridge connecting the former Strathmore mill complex to Canal Street has been demolished following asbestos and vermiculite abatement.
The bridge was torn down on Monday by crews with FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. and the structure now sits on the floor of the drained power canal. The demolition took place during FirstLight’s annual drawdown of the canal for maintenance, and extra time was needed for vermiculite abatement ahead of the demolition.
“The removal phase started on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and is on track to be completed in time to refill the canal on Friday, Oct. 3,” FirstLight Communications Manager Claire Belanger confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
Montague Assistant Town Administrator Chris Nolan-Zeller said on Monday that removing the bridge following its demolition was complicated due to how it fell in the canal, making extrication from the bank difficult. According to Nolan-Zeller, FirstLight needed to call in a second excavator from Albany, New York, as part of its contingency plan.
“They knew it was a possibility,” Nolan-Zeller said, referencing FirstLight.
As this demolition is being overseen by FirstLight, Nolan-Zeller confirmed that the need for extra equipment will not result in any extra cost to the town.
The demolition of this footbridge is the latest step in the process to redevelop the former Strathmore mill complex, which has been vacant since 2007. The redevelopment has been an objective for the town since it acquired the property in 2010, and Montague has roughly $10 million set aside for the project, including a $4.92 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and $5 million from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
As part of the footbridge demolition, the town has paid $38,000 for asbestos abatement and an extra $6,150 for the remaining vermiculite abatement through a contract with All-Star Abatement Inc. of Westfield. The town was required to assist in the abatement per a property easement agreement that the town reached with FirstLight in 2021.
When asked what the next steps are for the town, Nolan-Zeller said, “We get to work.” He added that Montague will work to finalize a demolition plan for the mill complex with engineers from Tighe & Bond and seek a possible demolition in spring 2026.
The town originally sought a summer 2025 demolition of the Strathmore, but initial cost estimates from Tighe & Bond were cost-prohibitive, resulting in a delay.
Tighe & Bond was contracted by the town for $17,250 to create an alternative demolition design for the former mill complex after it was determined that an initial estimate to demolish and completely rebuild a single building — Building 9 — would deplete the full $10 million budget for the project. The second option entailed a $7 million price tag to demolish 10 buildings at the complex and stabilize Building 9, which houses the privately owned hydroelectric turbine operated by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy.
The $17,250 contract, paid for using part of the $5 million that was allocated to the project by DCR, allows the town and engineers with Tighe & Bond to explore demolition and redevelopment designs that are more feasible in terms of cost.