Section Of Cochituate Rail Trail Reopens In Natick

NATICK, MA — A section of the Cochituate Rail Trail has reopened after a bridge was removed in the area, Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials said.

Demolition of the Loker Street Pedestrian Bridge has been completed and the segment of the Cochituate Rail Trail in Natick between Bacon Street and Fisher Street was reopened as of Aug. 29.

Earlier this month, Natick officials shared that the pedestrian bridge and the portion of the rail trail below were closed abruptly by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The organization said at the time that the closure was a result of "findings from a recent bridge inspection that have required the closure of the pedestrian bridge and a segment of the rail trail between Bacon Street and Fisher Street."

In a news release announcing the reopening of the trail, officials said explained the process.

"MassDOT’s contractors have been undertaking bridge demolition and removal operations over the last two weeks to allow the rail trail segment that was temporarily closed to be reopened in advance of the holiday weekend," officials said.