by Bea Peterson
Twenty-first District U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam), Twentieth District Democratic Congressional Candidate Scott Murphy and Hoosick Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas were at the Barnett House on Saturday, March 14, to announce that the long anticipated single lane Caretaker’s bridge across the Walloomsac will be built this year with Federal stimulus funds.
The present bridge behind the Barnett House is 100 years old. It crosses the river to Cottrell Road and another portion of State owned land that is part of the Bennington Battlefield. It has been closed to vehicle traffic for many years. A year and a half ago the steel of the bridge was deemed too corroded to support even foot traffic.
“We have been working toward a new bridge since 2006,” said Douglas. Engineer Charles Tutunjian, with Creighton Manning Engineering, said plans for the bridge are 75% complete. He expects it will go out for bid in May. “Work should begin around the fourth of July and be completed by Thanksgiving,” he said. Currently there are two designs for the bridge. One is an open steel truss bridge, similar to the present bridge. The other plan is for a covered bridge style. The sides and the roof can be put over the truss bridge at a later date. The estimated cost of the bridge is $1.2 million. The covered bridge style would be an additional $80,000 and would not be covered by Stimulus funds. Until the bids for the bridge have been received, Douglas said, no decision will be made on which one will be built.
“This is more than just a bridge,” said Douglas, “this is part of one of the best kept secrets in the State, the Bennington Battlefield.” And, she added, “The fishing is better here in the Walloomsac than it is on the Battenkill.” Congressman Tonko said, “There is a wonderful sense of history here. There would be a different America today without the major battles fought in New York State.” The Stimulus package, he said, is a down payment on America and beyond that offers an improved quality of life. He was serving in the NYS Assembly and remembers the bridge collapse on the New York State Thruway near Amsterdam in 1987. He said it is important to maintain infrastructure for public safety. This important work creates jobs, he added.
The Stimulus package supports new energy efficiency, improvements in medical technologies and transportation such as high speed rail lines. Heritage tourism will become more important in the future as well, making sites such as the Battlefield more popular.
The Congressman supports Murphy’s bid for office. Murphy said heritage sites such as the Battlefield teach values that can be passed on. He said he supports the problem solving solutions President Obama advocates. “They are a down payment on boldness, and they will help form a new America.”