ARPA funds set aside to paint trestle bridge

COVENTRY — With help from pandemic relief funds, a symbol of Coventry's past is on track to getting a much-needed makeover.

The Coventry Town Council voted unanimously during its meeting Monday night to appropriate $210,000 of the approximately $10.3 million it anticipates receiving in American Rescue Plan Act funds to paint the railroad trestle bridge that crosses above Route 117 near Knotty Oak Road.

The historic bridge was built as part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail line, and is among the town’s most well-known landmarks.

But with its chipped and faded paint, the bridge has seen better days.

According to a quote from Blast All Inc., an industrial painting contractor based in Connecticut, it will cost $185,000 to clean and repaint the bridge and to safely remove any lead paint debris.

Another $15,000 of the relief funds will cover the cost of traffic management, plus the council decided to throw in another $10,000 toward refurbishing the signs on either side of the bridge.

Blast All Inc. was recommended to Public Works Director Kevin McGee by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, he said Monday.

It could be that the bridge doesn't have any lead-based paint, in which case the project could end up costing a little less, McGee added. Removal of lead paint debris would cost $8,000, according to the bid from Blast All Inc.

As of Monday it was unclear when the work could be scheduled for, McGee said. — the town has until the end of 2026 to spend its American Rescue Plan Act funds.

RIDOT, which has a controlling interest in the bridge, has indicated their support of the project, Town Manager Benjamin Marchant added, but has said there may be repairs that need to be made beforehand.

It’s unknown whether the state would make those repairs, Marchant said, adding that the council’s decision to allocate funds to painting the bridge should trigger RIDOT to look into what other work might be needed.

Councilors agreed Monday that the bridge, which hasn’t had a paint job since the bike path was completed, is in need of a fresh coat.

Full article can be found here: https://www.ricentral.com/coventry_courier/arpa-funds-set-aside-to-paint-trestle-bridge/article_353c3990-dd44-11ec-92e9-43e74bd3d748.html