MassDOT closes Holyoke’s Appleton Street bridge
HOLYOKE — This afternoon, September 23, the City of Holyoke received notice from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) that it is closing the Appleton Street bridge over the first level canal near Heritage State Park.
According to Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, the notification included the following: “An Inspection Team from MassDOT found a hole that was 20 inches high and 12 inches wide in Girder 3 in the area that the gunite (dry-mix concrete) had fallen off of Girder 3. Due to the widespread deterioration of the girders that is visible and is not encased in gunite, it has been determined that the bridge be closed to all traffic.”
Garcia said the City of Holyoke Mayor’s Office, Engineering Department, Department of Public Works, Police, Fire, Economic Development and Planning, and Cataldo Ambulance have met and all agencies are aware and have made changes in their emergency response routes. The City is working on final detour routes at which time the public will be notified. In the meantime, Garcia asks that drivers follow detour route signage that is already installed.
“On Thursday,” Garcia said, “MassDOT will be inspecting the bridge on Appleton Street over the second level canal at Race Street. We will immediately notify the public of any impacts on roadway access resulting from that inspection.”
“MassDOT lists these bridges for replacement in the State Transportation Improvements Program,” the Mayor said. “The City will be lobbying our legislators and the Commonwealth to accelerate the schedule.”
“We will update the public as we develop a local response and traffic plan to this sudden event.”