This is What a Damaged Bridge Looks Like...

Amherst bridges slated for replacement in the coming years sure look better on the surface than underneath.

The above photos show the damage within Manchester Road Bridge and Horace Greeley Road Bridge, which are scheduled to be replaced through the NHDOT Municipal Bridge Aid Program. Rust and erosion over the years have inspectors concerned about the use of these bridge structures.

Amherst has 14 bridges within its borders and three of them are on the NHDOT red list of deficient bridges that need repair and annual inspection to ensure safety. The Horace Greeley and New Boston Road bridges are on this list, and the Manchester Road Bridge was closed in December due to safety concerns.

A replacement for Manchester Road Bridge is in the pipeline for 2018 at an estimated $1,050,000, and $1,315,000 for Horace Greeley Road Bridge in 2020. The town would be reimbursed for 80 percent of these costs.

New Hampshire has 39 percent of its 1,678 municipal bridges on the red list, or very close to being added. A total of  359 bridges are on the red list and 292 are on the “near red list”. NHDOT says 52 bridges have been closed for safety reasons.

The average bridge project in 2012 was $900,000, with half of them due to multi-plate pipe deterioration and failure.