By order of the NH Department of Transportation and the Dublin Board of Selectmen, Road Agent Brian Barden has CLOSED the culvert bridge on Old Marlborough Road that spans Charcoal Brook at the Dublin Lake Club Golf Course.
The NHDOT inspected the culvert bridge on December 26, 2006 and, as a result of that inspection, found deficiencies that were serious enough to warrant closing the bridge until repairs can be made.
This bridge has been on the State "Red List" for the last four years. "Red Listed" bridges are those that are deemed to be in need of replacement by NHDOT.
Although there is a program of State Bridge Aid for bridge replacement, a Town must have 20% of the projected cost of the replacement in a Capital Reserve Fund in order to qualify for the aid program. Dublin has been contributing $10,000 per year for the last three years and will contribute another $10,000 this year to the Bridge Replacement Capital Reserve Fund.
The Board of Selectmen and the Road Agent will meet very soon with State officials and representatives from Holden Engineering to assess the condition of the bridge and to see what temporary repairs might be made so that the bridge can be opened again to vehicular traffic.
However, this bridge will remain CLOSED to vehicular traffic of any kind until further notice.
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