Work on Brown Bridge Progressing Well

 

June 10, 2002 - I went to the Shrewsbury Town Clerk's office today and picked up a copy of the Brown Bridge inspection report. While I was there, I talked to the Town Clerk and she told me the workers had found some more problems with the bridge and would it be closed for another three weeks. I then went back down to the bridge to see what the workers would tell me.

The work on the bridge has progressed real well. All of the South side of the bridge has been completely re-sided and the north side is over half complete. I talked to one of the workers at the bridge and he said the bridge should be open by Wednesday. Their part of the project on the bridge is almost finished. He told me the North side of the bridge would be completely re-sided by the end of the day. The only thing left is they have to replace the principal rafter at the entrance of the East portal.

Over the years the rafter had received water damage and one of the ends was removed, leaving a gap between the cord and the remaining section of the rafter. A metal rod was put in to fill in the gap between the cord and the rafter. Because of that makeshift repair the whole rafter has to be removed and replaced. Other then that the Bridge is just about ready to be reopened!

Robert Cassidy, VCBS Bridge-watch, Rutland