The parking lot at the head of the Nortwottuck Rail Trail will close Sept. 23.
NORTHAMPTON — The state Department of Conservation and Recreation will close the Norwottuck Rail Trail Connecticut River bridge and parking lot on Damon Road beginning Sept. 23 so the bridge can undergo a re-decking.
Paul Jahnige, director of the Greenways and Trails Program, said he expects the bridge to be closed for about six months. The bridge repair project is separate from the Norwottuck Rail Trail repair project, which is currently underway.
The state Accelerated Bridge Program is funding the $1.1 million bridge repair, Jahnige said. Federal and state money is financing the $4 million rail trail repair.
Plans to repair and widen parts of the 11-mile trail from Northampton to Belchertown have been in the works since former U.S. Rep. John W. Olver secured $4.4 million for the project in 2004.
Jahnige said work, which began earlier this summer, is progressing. Crews have been working on the section of the path from Cross Path Road to East Street in Hadley, and he expects that to reopen sometime next month.
The construction crew will then move on to the next section from East Street to South Maple Street (behind Hampshire Mall in Hadley), he said.
“Overall it’s been going quite well,” he said. “It’s pretty early, (but) so far there haven’t been any delays.” The contractor has not faced any weather issues. He said the Greenways and Trails Program hasn’t received any complaints about the repairs closing the trail.
Crews will stop excavation in November, but they might be able to continue with tree work as long as the weather allows, Jahnige said. He said he expects the bike path will be open during the winter for skiing.
Crews are expected to be back at work in April from South Maple Street to Route 116 in Amherst, according to the project schedule.
The state expects the project to be completed by November 2014.