The closed King's Bridge connecting Palmer and Brimfield is slated for repair in spring 2011.
WILBRAHAM - Palmer resident Frank G. Real said he was pleasantly surprised when he noticed the new Red Bridge Road bridge was open.
The bridge, which spans a Chicopee River canal, connects Wilbraham and Ludlow, will be used as a shortcut by many Palmer residents such as Real.
“I went over it yesterday. It saved me some time. It’s the best way, I think, of going to avoid Route 20” in Wilbraham, Real said on Thursday.
MAS Building & Bridge Inc., of Franklin, was the contractor for the $1.5 million project to replace the former bridge at that site. The project was financed by federal stimulus funds.
Richard Nangle, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said the new bridge opened Aug. 18.
He said work will officially finish on Friday, and besides bridge demolition and replacement, the project included clearing, excavating and reconstruction of the roadways approaching the steel bridge, as well as guardrail installation.
In other bridge news, the King’s Bridge, which connects Palmer and Brimfield and has been closed for five years, is slated for repair this spring. It spans the Quaboag River and was featured in the John Travolta film, “A Civil Action.”
Nangle said the King’s Bridge job is scheduled for advertisement in the next few weeks with a bid opening in the fall. He said the state-funded project is $2.8 million and involves widening of the roadway.
Acting Palmer Town Manager Patricia A. Kennedy said the Turley family has donated two parcels of land to the town so the bridge replacement project can begin. The land donation was accepted by the Town Council at its meeting this week.