Town Considers Options After Mack Hill Road Bridge Closure

The Town of Amherst is mulling its next steps after NHDOT closed down the bridge on Mack Hill Road on Friday.

Sean James, P.E. of Hoyle, Tanner & Associates discussed the possible options with Amherst selectmen on Monday. The Mack Hill Road/Manchester Road bridge was closed after NHDOT inspection deemed it unsafe for travel.

James said that his engineering study revealed flooding as his biggest concern for the bridge. The pipes put in to prevent such flooding have a lifespan of about 35 years, and they have been showing damage.

This bridge has been on NHDOT’s red list of bridges in poor condition, but work on it is eligble for an 80 percent reimbursement through the Municipal Bridge Aid Program. However, these funds would not be available in 2018.

James said that replacing the bridge would probably cost around $890,000. Temporary repairs, renting a bridge or putting another bridge over the old one are all options. Another would be to just keep the bridge closed indefinitely.

Possible detours to the center of town include right on Jones, left on Boston Post Road or Mack Hill to the bridge intersection, left on Manchester Road, and right on Narraganset Road to Amherst Street.

State representative Robert Rowe told selectmen that he would try to submit a bill to either get state funding up front.