Truck scalping bridge strikes again!

South East Street bike path overpass

No, not the Snell Street bridge that is being replaced next year at a $1 million cost while only growing a few inches taller, no wider and closing a busy road for many months; the other bike path overpass a mile-and-a-half or so to the south east on/over, naturally, South East Street.

That one too has a low clearance, but at 10 feet still matches what the Snell Street Bridge will rise to after the state spends $1 million.

On Sunday around dusk, a new-to-the-area driver piloting a Ryder rental truck was jolted by the sudden piercing screech of metal scraping metal. A confrontation the bridge, even as old as it is, always seems to win.

Raise the bridge

Snell Street Bridge

The Department of Conservation and Recreation will replace the Snell Street Bridge later this fiscal year and while they're at it--even though reusing the current abutments--will raise it by 6" to 8," which should help reduce instances of truck scalping that occurs when 10' moving vans forget to do the math.

The bridge was originally built to serve the Central Mass Railway Company but became part of the Norwottuck Rail Trail in 1993. Amherst College--the largest landowner in town--is donating a temporary easement on their adjacent property to allow a convenient detour while the overpass is closed for construction.

A tale of two detours, or an inconvenient truth: l-o-n-g red line will be the detour for 90% of the project duration, shorter red/blue lines combination (center) is for construction access to project, but occasionally open to weary travelers