WILLIAMSVILLE — The bridge across the Rock River in Williamsville is in disrepair. At our recent Town Meeting, we learned that the state has begun the preliminary studies for its repair or replacement, which is good news.
That this might take a very long time, as it did with the replacement of the Williamsville Covered Bridge and the Bridge in South Newfane, is of great concern, as is the possibility of simply closing the road while the bridge is fixed rather than installing a temporary span.
Built in 1934, the single-lane, cement Arch Bridge seems modest enough. However, as we learned in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene, this humble span plays a critical role not just in Williamsville or Newfane, but also regionally.
When the storm undermined the newer, bigger, more-impressive bridge across the Rock River at Route 30, traffic from the state highway was rerouted over the Arch Bridge for three weeks.
While the Arch Bridge couldn't accommodate the largest rigs, it did allow critical access for people and supplies from Brattleboro and points south up to Jamaica, where storm damage closed the highway entirely.
The cement bridge was like the “Little Engine That Could”: carrying traffic beyond its capacity and allowing recovery activities to progress.
The Arch Bridge is also critical for emergency services. Without it, the South Newfane–Williamsville Volunteer Fire Department would have to take a long and hilly detour to reach any incident on the Dover Road. Thanks to this bridge, they are also invariably first on the scene when there is an accident on Depot Road.
This is also the bridge used by visitors to our local attractions: Olallie Daylily Gardens, the Vermont Crafts Council's Open Studio Weekend, and the Rock River Artists' Open Studio Tour, as well as the annual parade commemorating the recovery from the devastation wrought by Irene. Indeed, it's a small miracle that the Arch Bridge withstood that storm.
Aside from local traffic, the Arch Bridge carries considerable traffic from Interstate 91 to points west, most notably Wilmington, Dover, and Mount Snow, a four-season resort. It plays a vital role in the economic vitality of both the West River and Deerfield valleys.
Not only does the bridge carry all the traffic vital to our livelihoods, it also does so with grace and safety. It's a pretty bridge and, as a single-lane span, it adds a level of traffic calming that helps preserve the quality of village life.
I do hope that the bridge will be repaired or replaced sooner rather than later, and that any project expected to take more than a few weeks will dictate the placement of a temporary span for the safety and security of both our neighborhood and our region.