Road reopens after seven-month repair

AMHERST – New Boston Road reopened last weekend, after being weight-limited for seven months and shut for three weeks due to a storm-damaged bridge.

Road crews worked hard to finish by the weekend.

Signs cautioning about the closure, not to mention the construction-site portable toilet, were still in place after cars and trucks were allowed through.

The closure had created long detours because of a lack of side roads – driving from one side of tiny Beaver Brook to the other side took nearly 20 minutes – and some complaints from town residents about lack of notice.

Even mail service was curtailed, with residents having to go to the town post office.

The total repair could cost close to $100,000, said Bruce Berry, director of the Amherst Highway Department. The cost is being taken out of the town road budget, but should eventually be largely covered by state bridge funds.