By Christina Scanlon
Concrete poured two weeks ago at the Church Street Bridge has been tested and approved, putting the project ahead of schedule.
This should come as good news for area residents and business owners who’ve been inconvenienced by the closure of the structure, now nearing five months.
Officials had previously stated the bridge would be open to traffic by Dec. 1. A new date was not named by officials.
Initially slated for replacement, anticipated federal funding was eliminated, causing the estimated $4 million project to be downgraded to rehabilitation instead.
Washington County Public Works Department took charge of the project at a cost estimated at $450,000. One of the county’s two bridge crews has been dedicated since May to the Granville project.
In mid-summer, the town of Granville fielded complaints from residents who believed the project was stalled as a majority of the work was done below street level and could not be seen.
The project, however, was continuing as expected, despite a major setback when a 90-foot wall needed to be replaced. That wall measures 18 feet tall closest to the river.
1Still to come are two more concrete pours, which will cap off the wall. Cosmetic repairs to the arch will also take place during those pours. Sidewalks will be installed on both sides of the bridge.