Work on Lower River Road bridge keeps flowing

CORNWALL — Work on the replacement of the storm-damaged Lower River Road bridge was proceeding ahead of schedule as of last Friday, Oct. 21. A crew from Mohawk Northeast Inc. began earlier in the week moving equipment into tight quarters at the site around the corner from the West Cornwall side of the Covered Bridge. A footing of the very old, one-lane bridge was destroyed Aug. 28 by Tropical Storm Irene. The Board of Selectmen declared a state of emergency, secured FEMA funding that will cover 75 percent of about $600,000 in costs and hired an engineer to help expedite bids from contractors who could design and build a new and longer bridge. After getting the go-ahead early last week, one of Mohawk’s initial tasks was to build a pedestrian bridge over Mill Brook just upstream of the now-removed bridge. It allows direct access for residents at four homes on the dead-end road. It also provides a great platform for viewing the interesting approach Mohawk is taking. The old stone pilings will be replaced with concrete-filled steel pipes inserted about 30 feet deep into the streambed. Mohawk was rigging up drilling equipment Friday to begin the first of 12 holes. Project Manager Roger Kane was on site, and said they were having some difficulties with the drill bit, but were otherwise moving along nicely.He pointed out unreinforced concrete pads poured on either side of the stream channel. They provide a solid, dry platform on which to work. The concrete will provide support for the pilings, which will in turn reinforce the concrete. Boulders will be piled up to hide the pads after the pilings are in place. Kane said large rocks will be brought down from Cream Hill to use under the bridge as a natural looking riprap to slow water flow upstream of the bridge and prevent erosion. The flow into the Housatonic will be returned to its natural state. Rocks that have piled up at the convergence of the two watercourses split the brook so that a portion is now flowing into the river against the current.Mohawk was given until Dec. 10 to finish. Their timeline shows a mid-November completion.

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