DEERFIELD — Come Monday, Stillwater Bridge over the Deerfield River will close for emergency repairs, cutting off Upper Road and West Deerfield from immediate access to Routes 5 and 10 and 116 for at least a few months.
The closure will happen because the bridge failed a recent inspection conducted by the state Department of Transportation. Thursday afternoon, state officials ordered Stillwater Bridge to be shut down until emergency repairs can be made.
The order prompted a meeting of several town emergency service leaders.
“A recent MassDOT underwater inspection of this municipally owned structure revealed scour damage under a spread footing on a pier of this bridge, creating a dangerous washout and potential failure to this pier,” said MassDOT Spokesman Marvin Patrick Thursday evening, noting that the state is working with the town to plan emergency repairs.
“It is our understanding that the town intends to apply for expedited emergency environmental permits,” Marvin continued. “The goal is to repair the washout area as soon as possible.”
Initially, town officials expected the bridge to be permanently closed until another could be built. Early estimates predicted bridge replacement would have taken more than five years.
Even a temporary closure will have a huge impact on transportation in the region, affecting public safety response times, school bus routes, Highway Department snow plowing, farmers who own land on both sides of the river and commuters who won’t be able to use Upper Road as a shortcut to Greenfield anymore.
Within a few hours of being notified by the state, Deerfield Police Officer Adam Sokoloski said town officials held an emergency meeting and discussed contingency plans to reduce the harm of the bridge’s closure — which emergency officials said they’re ready to face.
“Road closures are just one of the many types of complications that we plan and are prepared for,” said South County EMS Director Zach Smith.
“South County EMS is working with our partners in public safety to ensure that our citizens stay well-protected and can continue to count on quick response and high-quality EMS care,” he continued, adding that response to West Deerfield could soon come from “one of our fellow agencies.”
“Deerfield Police will continue to respond to all calls for service and patrol the area. Depending on the nature of the emergency, we may request assistance from State Police if they have an officer close by or Greenfield Police,” Sokoloski said, adding, “we already are in a joint mutual aid agreement with Greenfield Police Department.”
Also represented at the meeting was the Greenfield Fire Department, which will help local firefighters if needed.
Based on a MassDOT project file, which is still in the design phase, the state initiated a “bridge preservation” project earlier this year, scheduled to break ground over the winter of 2020 and 2021. The file estimates the project’s cost to be $6,266,365. It was unclear at press time whether that project would follow the emergency repairs as scheduled or whether the newly discovered damage would require an entire replacement.
School Union 38 bus routes will be affected by the bridge closure, as well.
“In response to the Stillwater Bridge closing, the Frontier Regional and Union 38 transportation manager, Patti Cavanaugh, met with transportation partner Grybko, LLC to rework the routes that are impacted by the bridge closing,” Union 38 Superintendent Lynn Carey said in a statement Friday afternoon, noting that the bridge’s closure “will affect three routes at both Frontier Regional and Deerfield Elementary Schools.”
According to an information sheet released by the school district, “the D-1 bus will now be for students living on Upper and Lower Roads in West Deerfield only.” Students who live on Stillwater, Mill Village, Lee and Hillside Roads will now ride the D-3 bus, with some drop off times delayed.
Students on Beaver Drive, who ride the D-2 route, “will now be picked up approximately 25 minutes earlier,” at 7 a.m. instead of 7:25 a.m. Sugarloaf Street students as well as those on King Philip and Gromacki Avenues will be picked up by Sunderland buses.
Finally come Monday, “the D-1 bus will be for students living on Upper and Lower Roads in West Deerfield only.”
A public information meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, starting at 4 p.m., in the town’s municipal office building.