AMHERST — Construction on a North Amherst bridge below the Puffer’s Pond dam, closed to vehicular traffic since July 2012, is expected to begin next month.
The state recently hired ET&L Corp. of Stow as the contractor for the $2.1 million project, which is expected to be complete by May 18, 2019, said Leah Epstein, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
The work will include replacing the century-old bridge and installing new abutments and a 24-foot-wide bridge, which will feature a 10-foot-wide, multiuse path and a one-way traffic lane, with vehicles only able to access the bridge from the north side, or Summer Street and Pulpit Hill Road.
Even though the bridge, whose original headwalls and concrete date to 1906, closed following a state inspection that found it to be in deteriorating condition, it has remained open to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Residents who live nearby have also dressed up the bridge with flower pots to make it a more attractive place to view the water flowing over the dam.
Epstein said the state will work with town on closing the trailhead to the Julius Lester Trail, which is near the construction site.
Once work begins, there will be a lengthy detour for pedestrians to get from one side of the pond to the other, either using trails at Mill River Recreation Area or that go around the perimeter of the pond.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.