TURNERS FALLS, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The design firm working with the Town of Montague on the bridge replacement project in Turners Falls is recommending what they call “Alternative 2”. This proposal would replace the 5th Street bridge over the Connecticut River and the canal bridge with new spans to be located 70 feet to the south. The new configuration would lessen the sharp turn at the bottom of Turners Falls Road on the Greenfield side leading to the bridge.
A much-discussed “Alternative 3” would close the 5th Street bridge. Traffic would then cross the river with a new span at 6th Street, joining Turners Falls Road much further to the south. Ron Antico of MassDOT said there were some problems with that plan that would be tough to overcome.
“Alternative 3 poses some scenarios we don’t like,” said Antico. “Mainly, the grade. Greenfield’s highway director was in our last meeting, and he was very uncomfortable with the grade coming from Greenfield, with snow and ice removal, and how dangerous that could be.”
State and local officials are set to continue talks in the coming weeks to finalize a plan.