KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow.com) Two older bridges in Keene have new restrictions. Starting on Dec. 1, the two bridges, built in the 1920s, are located at Spring and Beaver Streets over Beaver Brook. Both of these bridges will be posted with a maximum total weight limit of 10 tons. The weight limit restriction comes after testing done by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), and an independent structural evaluation that was conducted earlier this year.

In a news release yesterday, the city outlined why the new weight limits were required. Both of these bridges, built a century ago, have outlived their intended service life, and may key load-carrying components of the bridge were found to be in poor condition during their most recent inspection. Both bridges no longer are able to adequately support the current legal load limits or emergency vehicles.

Other vehicles that should not travel over the bridges are no vehicle weighing over 10 tons, which includes but is not limited to school busses, oil and propane trucks, logging vehicles and delivery trucks. Operators with vehicles that are under the weight limit restriction are free to continue using the bridge; those who are over the weight limit must seek alternate routes.

The bridges aren’t going to be fixed in the short term, as according to the City Engineer’s Office, it wouldn’t be cost-effective. The city intends to fully replace both bridges, which is what was recommended by the engineering evaluation.

Reasons provided for this conclusion include the fact that both of these bridges weren’t designed for the load of modern vehicles, and that the deterioration of both bridges is expected to accelerate. The replacement work will be funded through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, potentially with a portion of the funding provided through the NHDOT’s “State Aid Bridge” program.