HINSDALE, N.H. — When it comes to the future of the two decommissioned bridges connecting Hinsdale to Brattleboro, just about anything is on the table, including demolition.
"That is a heavy lift," acknowledged William Cass, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, "given the commitment we made in the environmental documents."
Most of the funding of the project to replace the 100-year-old Anna Hunt Marsh Bridge and the Charles Dana Bridge came from the federal government through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program and the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant program.
The $62 million allocated for the project, which included building the new Gen. John Stark Memorial Bridge, came with commitments to keep the two bridges open for pedestrians and for access to the Connecticut River at the island that sits between the two bridges.
"But if the two communities find the best solution is to remove them, we can see about that," said Cass.
However, he noted, the plan all along has been to rehab the old bridges for at least $8 million, a process that will take about two years and is expected to start next year.
"We have a commitment to do limited rehab to those bridges because they are a historic resource," said Cass, who has been meeting with Hinsdale town officials concerned about their responsibility to maintain and police the bridges when the Department of Transportation is finished.
"I fully think we will honor our commitment and do the work as promised," he said, but that's where the commitment ends. "At the end of this, the question has been who is going to maintain these. That is a question that has been lingering. We've been frank and honest. From our perspective, we don't have the wherewithal."
With rehab work expected to start next year, the question has arisen how to keep people from littering and from engaging in illicit activities on the bridges and the island until work does begin.
Hinsdale Town Administration Kathryn Lynch told the Reformer that at a recent meeting with Cass, she noted there have been "an overabundance of calls for service to the bridge island area," which is increasing the burden on the town's police department and emergency providers.
"One of the solutions that was discussed was gating the bridges off to all traffic and only allowing emergency agencies with keys," she said.
That option is under consideration, said Cass, but no decisions have been made.
"If everyone feels that is the best thing for the time being, we will look at doing that."
At the June 3 meeting of the Brattleboro Select Board, Alexander Belogour, speaking on behalf of the new owners of the former Whetstone Brewery, said they believe keeping the bridges open and accessible would be a great benefit to Brattleboro.
He said fencing off the bridges would prove to be a detriment to people who are now enjoying the bridges without traffic.
"We see people there every day," said Belogour, whose family owns Vermont News & Media, the parent company of the Reformer. "We see people enjoying the tranquility that is there."
Belogour said when the new Rail & River Tavern is opened, they hope to be leasing the Anna Hunt Marsh Bridge for dining and other activities.
Brent Morrison, director of development for the Connecticut River Conservancy, also spoke at the board meeting, saying there are "a fair number" of Brattleboro residents who are invested in keeping the bridges open to the public.
"We are really enthusiastic for what we have down there," he said. "There is bird song and it's fragrant with flowers. It's a really special place."
He said with the help of the Friends of Island Park, a local volunteer group that cares for the island, they've been able to clean up the space for visitors.
"We have a cleanup scheduled every month through October," he said. "We have received gifts for the future for the cost of cleanup and maintenance."
Cass said a meeting is scheduled for the end of this month, this time with representatives from both Hinsdale and Brattleboro. There will be more public meetings this year to discuss the future of the bridges.
"We would love the town of Brattleboro or the Connecticut River Conservancy or some other group be established to take over management of the island and bridges," he said. "There needs to be some entity that oversees and take charge. That's not going to be the Department of Transportation."
Cass also said establishing a public-private partnership or an official "bridge authority" are also under consideration.
As far as gating the bridges until work starts, said Cass, "No decision has been made. We'll make sure both towns are in consensus first."
