Bridge over protected water: Salem trail has a new bridge
Salem — Nearly 15 years after the idea was conceived, the multi-purpose path in Salem is one step closer to completion with the construction of a new bridge.
The path runs behind Salem School and Town Hall, from Music Vale Road to Round Hill Road, and includes seven crossings over streams and wetlands. Four of the crossings were approved by the Planning and Zoning and Inland Wetlands Conservation commissions in 2008, but crossings 3, 6 and 7 didn't receive approval until January.
The last three bridges go over Harris Brook, a tributary of the Eightmile River. Because the Eightmile River is protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the town of Salem had to create a riparian corridor overlay zone in 2007 to protect the land on either side of the river and its tributaries. Any construction in the zone requires a special exception permit, and it took the Recreation Commission three years to obtain the permits from DEEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to apply for the zoning permit.
The new bridge is at crossing 3, directly east of Salem School. Sue Spang, who leads both the Recreation Commission and the Multi-Purpose Path Committee, said a diligent group of volunteers led by Eric Belt and Jimmy McIntire constructed the bridge over two weekends in October and November.
"We did that whole bridge by hand," she said. "There was no equipment. It was all hand tools, small power tools."
The new bridge, which came as a pre-engineered kit, is 74 feet long and 8 feet wide and cost about $176,000. Spang said it was covered by a recreation trails grant and a Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant.
Teri Natoli, another member of the Multi-Purpose Path Committee, said there was good camaraderie within the construction crew, from setting the plans straight to sharing lunch. She said she felt very accomplished being able to put together such a large project.
The bridge has a few finishing touches before the construction signs can be taken down, and Spang said the Recreation Commission hopes to hold a formal grand opening during Connecticut Trails Week in June.
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