Are you a user of the little River Road Bridge over the Clam River in New Boston?

This is not the bridge on 57 over the Silver Brook. That bridge is the one beside the former Silverbrook Cafe.

Rather, this bridge is the rickety, wood-rail, pot-holed bridge at the foot of South Beech Plain Road, where that road joins River Road, and crosses the river to intersect with Rt. 57. The bridge is mostly out of sight, but it's a major convenience for anyone coming down or going up Beech Plain Road or driving along River Road.

But now MassDOT has declared the bridge as being in "imminent danger of failure."

Suddenly, October 10, the bridge was closed, concrete barriers went up, taking Town Hall, our DPW, and drivers by surprise.

The bridge may be closed "indefinitely."

There's a short, tricky detour. Drive east (or west, depending on whether you are coming or going) for about 3/4 of a mile along narrow River Road to where it joins 57. It takes a little longer to get to 57 and the road is narrow and turns one-way in one spot, so be careful. The road is popular for hikers and dogwalkers alike, so stay alert.

Town Manager Janey Snyder said, "We recognize that River Road is narrow, so the Town will continue to monitor conditions to ensure safety if traffic volumes increase." The project will be overseen by the DPW Superintendent with support from the Town Manager.

Flashback to May 2024. The Town had planned to renovate the Route 57 bridge first. A MassDOT inspection of the two bridges put the Silver Brook crossing on a watch list, while the River Road Bridge passed inspection. Engineering for the first project was completed, but a grant application to fund construction was not awarded. And now MassDOT has reversed itself.

"In hindsight," Janey said, "that may have been a blessing since River Road would have served as the detour during that work. However, the unexpected closure of the River Road Bridge underscores how quickly conditions can change. Before moving forward, we intend to obtain written documentation from MassDOT regarding the expected lifespan of the Route 57 bridge. This will help us determine how to prioritize both bridge projects and avoid extended and/or simultaneous closures."

A temporary bridge is a possibility, however, Janey said, "Engineering and permitting alone can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, with construction expenses in the millions. Until we secure funding and complete design work, we cannot provide a firm start date."