Long Wait for Safe Crossing Over Limekiln Brook

The bridge over Limekiln Brook on Walnut Hill Road has been demolished and, after more than a decade of planning and working through the permitting process, work is moving forward on construction of a safer bridge.

“The new bridge will have no load restrictions posted,” Town Engineer Andrew Morosky said. “Unlike the old bridge, which was posted for 8 tons and therefore could not be used by school buses.”

Like current school bus routes, drivers will have to detour around the area of Walnut Hill Road between Taylor Road and Shelter Rock Road during the reconstruction, likely through December.

Contractor J. Iapaluccio, Inc. has until next spring to complete the project, though Morosky said he expects only landscaping work will be left by the end of fall.

“The reason construction takes so long is that the entire bridge needs to be built from the foundation up and the contractor can only work on one side of the brook at a time due to environmental restrictions,” he explained.

Since work began one month ago, the bridge superstructure and west abutment have been removed and new utility poles and overhead power and cable lines have been put up, according to Morosky.

Once the abutments on each side of the brook are finished, the concrete deck will be lifted into place and the roadway paved over from both sides and bridge railings and guide rails will be installed.