WINCHENDON – Motorists driving between the center of Winchendon and Olde Centre will have to make a short detour for the foreseeable future.

The town-owned Front Street Bridge, which spans the southern end of Hunts Pond where it empties into the Millers River, has been closed indefinitely according to Town Manager Bill McKinney.

Motorists who would normally cross the bridge connecting Front Street and High Street will now need to traverse Spring and Water streets, a detour of about a quarter mile.

McKinney told the Athol Daily News that much of the concrete that supports the bridge deck has deteriorated to such a point that “a majority of that is unrepairable.” Asked if the town could apply for funding to repair the span under the state’s Small Bridge Program, McKinney said the structure is too large to qualify.

“A bridge has to be between 10 to 20 feet,” he said, “and that bridge exceeds that length.”

The town manager said early estimates put the cost of replacing the bridge at almost $6 million. McKinney said he has met with state officials and a bridge engineer and because its location doesn’t prevent access to residences or send first responders on a lengthy detour, the entire cost of replacement will be borne by the town, which McKenney said town finances cannot cover at this time.

“Especially with the town’s financial situation at this point,” said McKenney, “that’s just not possible.”

The same bridge was closed to traffic in 2015 by order of the state Department of Transportation, due to deterioration in a pair of support beams. The bridge re-opened in September 2017 after workers made repairs by welding steel plates onto the girders. Joints at either end of the bridge, which had decayed from years of exposure to road salt, were also replaced. This cost the town approximately $170,000. It was estimated at the time that the repairs would extend the life of the bridge by 10 to 15 years.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.