NORTHFIELD — Residents who want to have a say in the redesign of Schell Bridge have until Monday to submit their feedback to Judy Wagner, chairwoman of the Schell Bridge Advisory Committee, at judy.wagner37@gmail.com.
Last month, three designs were presented for the community to choose from. Community members are asked to state which of the three designs they prefer and any other comments.
The Committee will meet again Wednesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the Dickinson Memorial Library to review the results of the community’s feedback.
Wagner said that she transcribes the feedback verbatim, and will pass the results on to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. MassDOT and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation are in charge of the project.
She said that, based on the community’s feedback, there is clearly a preference for one of the three designs, although she did not say which one, so as not to influence the process.
Many responses express excitement at the prospect of connecting the two parts of Northfield separated by the Connecticut River and at the recreational potential of the bridge, Wagner said. There are tentative plans for the new Schell Bridge to be a part of a larger recreational area that would include hiking trails on either side.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s anticipated date for construction to begin is 2021, Wagner said.
“It’s hard, but we’re in the queue and the queue includes so many other projects across the state,” she said.
The bridge was closed in 1985 and construction of the replacement could begin in 2021 and be complete by 2023.