Western Avenue Bridge

Replaced with a modern galvanized truss bridge. Visited the new bridge last week. It's proponents claim it will preserve the historic character of the West Henniker enclave. The Granite State is rapidly depleting its inventory of heritage iron and steel truss bridges, listed in the Lichenstein Report. But there is not any real public support for this bridge type.

http://www.newhampshire.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150...

My letter in the state's newspaper, the Union Leader. Unfortunately buried deep within the paper with other letters reviling Trump, Hilary. Unfortunately NH and the NHDOT has an abysmal record preserving heritage spans perhaps topped only by PennDot. This is a plea for the town of Henniker to become a historic bridge sanctuary. Apparently even this is too much for the Granite State.

See: Make Henniker a bridge sanctuary

To the Editor: I read with interest the fate of Hooksett’s Lilac Bridge.

New Hampshire has done a boffo of a job removing its last historic steel and iron bridges. This feat will be complete when the Livermore Falls Pumpkinseed Bridge ruin is finally removed, for liability reasons.

Perhaps a few heritage spans should be left for future generations. The remaining steel truss bridges of Henniker should be set aside. Maybe Henniker can remain the one place left in the Granite State as a sanctuary for a once common bridge type?

This is something to consider.

STEVEN LINDSEY

Keene

- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201605...

Looks like a replacement, too. No bridge there now.

Don't worry Tony, they will only replace the metal parts :^)

I see the words REPAIR, REBUILD, and RECONSTRUCT in this article, but this sure sounds like a REPLACEMENT to me!

Latest on bridge, moneys voted.

See: "Henniker voters green-light money for bridge construction

By TIM GOODWIN

Concord Monitor staff

Sunday, March 16, 2014

(Published in print: Sunday, March 16, 2014)

Voters approved the final step to repair the Western Avenue bridge at yesterday’s Henniker town meeting – the money to fix it.

The bridge has been closed since the state deemed it unsafe in 2008, increasing traffic on the Patterson Hill bridge, which was rebuilt 20 years ago according to historic preservation requirements.

And after supporting the project since it first appeared on the warrant in 2009, voters approved a bond, 83-37, that will raise and appropriate $6.04 million for the cost to reconstruct the Western Avenue bridge. Last year, voters approved an article to cover the $384,000 associated with the design engineering portion of the project.

“We want to send a clear signal to the state and government that we intend to construct this bridge in Henniker,” said selectmen Chairman Kris Blomback before the vote.

The state Department of Transportation and Federal Bridge Aid will cover 80 percent of the construction, expected to begin in fall 2015. The town is responsible for the remaining 20 percent, or $1.20 million of the bond, but with construction more than a year away, some felt the vote should be pushed off.

“My recommendation is to wait till we have an idea of what the real bond amount will be,” said resident Jenn McCourt.

It was one of 19 articles Henniker residents passed at this year’s town meeting, only voting down one brought forward by petition..."