Last year, The Equinox reported the closure of the Martel Court Bridge, raising uncertainty about the safety of other bridges around campus, including the Ashuelot River Railroad Bridge that goes behind Walmart.
Melinda Treadwell, president of Keene State, addressed the bridge’s unclear ownership, “We don’t own it and they [the city] don’t own it. It’s unclear, but we are going to work together to fix it. We know how important it is to the town, bike riding community and college students.”
While ownership remains uncertain, the city, Keene State College and other partners have united to develop a plan for repairs.
“We applied for a grant to refurbish the boarding. We’ll get notification in the middle of October if we’ve received the award,” said Andrew Bohannon, the deputy city manager of Keene.
He explained the grant is part of the Recreational Trail Program (RTP), which is a self-funded program through state-regulated ATV registrations. He noted while the grant is competitive, it has funded various projects in the past.
Acknowledging the grant’s importance, Bohannon said, “The biggest obstacle we have in front of us is if we receive the grant or not and if we don’t, how do we secure the funding to make repairs needed? But I think we built a pretty good case for the grant application.”
He also provided a breakdown of the project’s estimated costs. The bridge’s reconstruction is estimated to be about $110,000, with the grant covering $80,000. Pathways for Keene, a non-profit organization, has pledged to donate $6,000, and the remaining budget has been agreed upon to be split by Keene State College and the City of Keene.
Even with funding efforts underway, some students remain concerned about the bridge’s current condition.
“I can tell it’s pretty old. A lot of times when I walk by the floorboards creak and I feel a little unsafe on it,” said Owen Morrissey, a junior.
While some students, like Morrissey, remain skeptical, Bohannon said the inspection showed the bridge was structurally sound, but all the wood components needed replacement, adding, “The bridge would not be open now if it wasn’t safe.”
For the city, the bridge’s repair is more than maintenance; it’s about attracting visitors from the south, Bohannon said. He added that he would like students to feel more comfortable when traveling over the bridge.
Bohannon said the project should move quickly once the award is received. “Our goal is to finish it before next fall,” he added.
With the combined efforts of the city, Keene State College and Pathways for Keene, the bridge’s repair will move forward once grant funding is fully secured, improving public safety and accessibility for students and the community.
Xander Noel can be contacted at
xnoel@kscequinox.com
