AMHERST — On a Route 116 bridge that passes over the Fort River, near the intersection with East Hadley Road and Mill Lane, several protective railings on the east side, facing the former Grist Mill, continue to rust away.
For several years, the metal guards that run the length of the bridge that was last rebuilt in 1965 have been deteriorating, raising concern for drivers who may be stopped on the structure as they wait for the nearby traffic light to change.
“Not only is the rusting bridge a sharp object posing a danger to pedestrians, but also an imminent danger to cyclists and vehicles that, in the event of an accident, might easily careen into the river for lack of physical barriers,” Daniel Berry, an Amherst resident, wrote in a recent email to the Gazette.
Despite repeated inquiries to town officials, Berry said he has been provided no timeline for when some of the metal pieces, especially those that have rusted away and left gaping holes in the protective system, will be replaced.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said this week that, while the bridge has been a subject of complaints periodically and the Department of Public Works has been aware of the condition of the metal railings, the fix has been a low priority.
In part, that’s because where the railings are in disrepair is opposite where the sidewalk for pedestrians is located. The railing on the west side, next to the sidewalk, is intact.
Still, Bockelman said he anticipates that the DPW will be installing new railings as soon as materials arrive, pulling out the metal pieces that have disintegrated.
In recent years, the town has focused on improving pedestrian and bicycle access along East Hadley Road where numerous apartment complexes are located, including installing a wider path for people to walk and bike on.
Part of this system includes the Grist Mill footbridge for pedestrians, which runs behind the building that once housed a restaurant and antique shop. That footbridge, dating to the 19th century, was completely rebuilt in 1998.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
