The Ashuelot River Railroad Bridge repair project has been delayed, pushing back the expected timeline for closure, repairs and reopening, according to Andrew Bohannon, deputy city manager of Keene.
It was announced in October that the bridge, which connects the Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail and the Winchester Lot to Keene State College, would receive repairs, which were expected to be completed before the next academic year.
Now, however, the project has been delayed as officials await the completion of the grant process, pushing construction further into the year and leaving the timeline uncertain.
The project is currently in the review phase of the grant process.
“We received notification that our application had moved forward, and they are in the process of all the reviews they have to go through,” Bohannon said.
The reviews include approvals related to environmental and historical concerns, as well as coordination with New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Bohannon said once all the reviews are completed, the application is forwarded to the city to confirm receipt of the funds. Afterwards, it goes to the governor and executive council for approval. Once they sign off, the city receives the funds. Bohannon said the city does not expect further delays in the project’s process.
Once the city navigates through the remaining steps to secure the grant, Bohannon said he is optimistic that construction could begin in late summer, close to their original timeline.
“Everything should be wrapped up in the May to June timeframe, and then construction could start in late summer,” Bohannon said. “The timeline would be to have it reopened in the fall or late fall.”
As The Equinox previously reported, only the wood components need to be replaced, while the steel structure is expected to last another 15 years, according to Bohannon.
“The boards themselves should definitely last that lifespan, but we will obviously have to monitor them and probably replace some here and there,” said Bohannon.
While the current repairs focus on the wooden components, Bohannon noted the city will eventually need a grant to replace the bridge itself, a process that will require careful planning and approvals.
Although a full replacement may be years away, Bohannon said several smaller maintenance projects on other local bridges have already begun, with more expected to occur before the grant is secured.
“All of our trail bridges we are in the process of redecking,” Bohannon said. He added while this bridge is older, most bridges built since the 1990s simply need new decking to remain safe.
Bohannon said he and his team repaired the bridge in Ashuelot River Park last year, and are scheduled to fix the bridge between Island Street and Pearl Street along the Cheshire Trail. In the spring, they also plan to repair another bridge behind Kingsbury in Beaver Brook.
All of these projects highlight the city’s ongoing efforts as part of its capital improvement program, which Bohannon said has funds allocated for various projects.
With multiple trail repair projects underway, Bohannon encourages residents to stay informed and report any issues they may notice.
“We’ll definitely notify the public when construction is happening,” Bohannon said. “If anyone sees an issue prior to our construction, please report it immediately so we can address it. Safety is our priority, and we want the trails to be enjoyable for everyone.”
Bohannon said he expects another update on the project sometime in March.
Pathway for Keene was contacted, but did not respond to a request for comment.
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