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caption, page 2:
Replacement Coming
The bridge on Danco Drive is in need of replacement. The likely date for that would be in the spring. Linda Lemmon photo.
'Danco'
bridge 1
step closer
to replaced
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — With one of the last local hurdles dealt with, the bridge on Danco Drive will begin the long process of being replaced.
The town’s Inland Wetlands Commission recently approved the plan to replace the bridge
Travis Sirrine, the town’s DPW Highway Superintendent, said the bridge has been in a slow deterioration for quite some time. An inspection found that it was “in worse condition than we knew” and limits were put on the bridge while the process of replacing it got underway. He said the bridge is limited to 7 tons and only one lane is open. A sign tells drivers to come to a complete stop before proceeding across. Sirrine said that CDM Smith made those recommendations after an inspection.
That company has also done a design for the replacement. The design calls for removing the bridge, putting in footings and then a pre-cast concrete bridge would be placed on the footings. Sirrine said it’s a good design because it leaves the utilities above, not below the bridge.
“Now that can move forward,” Sirrine said. The design will go to the state for an OK, since the repair is being paid for 50-50 between the state and town. Once it goes out to bid, the state must OK the chosen bid. Then the project can start.
This will likely come together in time for the spring building season.
The Recreation Park Bridge and the Woodstock Avenue Bridge have already been addressed. He said repairs have been done on the Bridge Street Bridge, a bridge on the Five Mile River and a bridge on East Putnam Road, over Cady Brook.
The town is looking at a twin-culvert bridge on East Putnam between Five Mile Road and Rt. 44 (near the Crossways Church). He said it’s old steel corrugated with a “rust line.” Because that bridge is longer than 20 feet, the state inspects it regularly, every six months or so. Years ago when the state cut the budget of the state’s bridge inspectors, towns were told to do the inspections on any bridges that were shorter than 20 feet in length.
Sirrine said the town is also looking at the bridge on Bates Avenue and Thompson Avenue. The Bates Bridge is stone and steel and the Thompson Avenue is concrete, he said.
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