Orange and Athol intend to close the Pinedale Avenue Bridge over the Tully River by Dec. 29, as recommended by the state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) due to the structure’s poor deck condition and posted 3-ton weight limited.
A letter from Patricia Leavenworth, MassDOT’s District 2 highway director, explains the agency has undertaken the inventory, inspection and rating of locally-owned bridges to help cities and towns comply with state and federal legislation. The letter to the Orange Selectboard was shared on Facebook by the Orange Fire Department.
According to the Facebook post, detour signs will be in place along the designated routes for both passenger and commercial traffic. Construction is scheduled to begin April 1, 2023, with completion by Dec. 1, 2023. Orange residents are encouraged to contact the Orange Highway Department with any questions.
Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski announced at the Selectboard’s Dec. 6 meeting that a $1.7 million contract for work on the Pinedale Avenue Bridge had been awarded to Clinton-based Construction Dynamics. He said the total cost will be shared with Orange. The river marks the town line between Athol and Orange.
Voters at Annual Town Meeting in June gave the nod to a $2.5 million Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override to replace or repair the Pinedale Avenue and Fryeville Road bridges, as well as the Crescent Street Sluiceway that carries mainly foot traffic.
Due to structural issues, the Pinedale Avenue Bridge has been off-limits to large trucks. The bridge was examined in 2019 by Bayside Engineering, of Woburn, which recommended complete replacement because repairs made to the bridge over the years are failing. Steel plates cover the span, concealing holes in the deck where rebar can be seen, and the rebar also appears to be deteriorating.
The bridge is regularly used by Athol and Orange residents traveling from one town to the other. Also, Athol fire trucks would normally use the Pinedale Avenue Bridge to respond to emergencies in Orange’s Tully/Drewville section because the neighborhood is closer to the Athol Fire Station than that of Orange.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.