An engineering firm hired by Edgartown found the wooden bulkhead on the eastern side of the bridge is showing significant signs of decay.
A bulkhead on the east side of the Chappaquiddick Dike Bridge needs to be replaced and initial cost estimates peg the project at $4.3 million, according to a new report.
Residents alerted Edgartown and The Trustees of Reservations about issues with the bulkhead earlier this year, prompting the town to further investigate the crossing. An engineering firm hired by the town to look into the damage found the wooden bulkhead on the eastern side of the bridge is showing significant decay, raising concerns about its structural integrity.
The town has attempted to bolster the bulkhead by putting in plywood supports, but the firm Tighe & Bond says it is clear the bulkhead will need to be replaced.
An SUV rolls onto the bridge this week.
An SUV rolls onto the bridge this week.
A “conservative” replacement estimate is $4.35 million, according to the engineer’s report presented to the Edgartown select board Monday. The bulk of the costs would be for construction, amounting to $3.6 million.
Who would pay for these repairs isn’t clear, but Edgartown town administrator James Hagerty called the price tag “shocking” at Monday’s select board meeting.
“Who’s going to pay for that?” he said. “Process-wise, I don’t think the town can use taxpayer money to pay for private property.”
The bridge is jointly owned by the Trustees and the town, but the deteriorating bulkhead is on the Trustees side of the property, according to Mr. Hagerty.
In a Cape Pogue district of critical planning concern meeting in March, the Dike Bridge’s condition was raised. At that meeting, officials with the Trustees said ownership of the property is complex and the Trustees was doing its due diligence before taking any major actions.
“The issue is not just who owns it,” said Trustees attorney Dylan Sanders. “Ownership of the bulkhead is separate from maintenance responsibility.”
In a statement to the Gazette this week, a Trustees spokesperson said the orgnaization is continuing to work with the town to understand the responsibilities the Trustees may have for maintaining the bulkhead.
The town is hoping to get ahead on the repairs before the fall and Mr. Hagerty talked about drafting a letter that would call on the Trustees to put a replacement plan in place.
The select board took no action on the bridge Monday, but member Michael Donaroma was floored by the cost, saying $4.3 million was “crazy.”
Comments
Shocking. Says town manager
Tom Engley West TisburyShocking. Says town manager
Crazy says Selectman.
Sounds like a plan to me.
If edgartown taxpayers make
just a thought edgIf edgartown taxpayers make any financial contribution to the repair of a 'jointly owned' bridge its only fair for the Trustees to share the appropriate percentage of funds generated by the sale of the oversand vehicle permits. Without the bridge the trustees would likely be unable to sell any permits
It could cost millions, but
Darren M. ChappyIt could cost millions, but it shouldn't cost millions! It is a small wooden bridge, with wooden bulk heads, the bulk head could be repaired for thousands, not millions. The bridge is in great condition, and a rotted bulk head should not warrant the replacement of the entire bridge, just the replacement of the bulk head. The proposed plan is completely unacceptable.
How about applying for funds
David Lott Vineyard HavenHow about applying for funds from Biden’s Infrastructure bill? Sounds like a perfect match.
Here we go again….the TTOR
Jack ChappyHere we go again….the TTOR absolving themselves of any responsibility …..how about a revert back to Poucha Pond being freshwater as it was originally and just eliminate the bridge altogether……
The Trustees, in their most
David EdgartownThe Trustees, in their most recent annual report, had over $200 million tucked away in cash and liquid investments. I'd say they can step up and build a bridge to THEIR property.
Absolutely, and permit
Rich EdgartownAbsolutely, and permit holders should also enjoy unencumbered access to THEIR property all the way to the gut next year.
4M is for a steel and
Seasonal Chappy4M is for a steel and concrete bulkhead with guard rails. The existing bulkhead and bridge are all wood. Presumably a wood bulkhead built next to the existing bulkhead would cost a fraction of the cost and be much more in character with Chappy.
Seems fitting that if the
Barry Stringfellow NomansSeems fitting that if the bridge is closed, the Chappy seasonal homeowners who spent so much on legal fees to deny fishermen OSV access from The Jetties to The Gut won't be able to drive to their houses.
Let them pick up the tab.
So the town has already
Colin Dike rdSo the town has already “bolstered” the bulkhead with plywood.? They also added landscape fabric and possibly street signs to hold back the silt. Also a large amount of fill. It sat in the parking lot for half the winter then was spread by our town employees on what the article says is the trustees deteriorating bulkhead. For those who have been out here it’s the low bulkhead just before the guard shack that had the metal bands holding it together exposed and getting run over for the past few years. My question is who is paying for the work the town has already done on private property?
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