Locals are expressing relief over the partial reopening of the General Pierce Bridge, which connects Greenfield and Montague over the Connecticut River.

The structure has been closed to vehicular traffic since April 26, 2021, to accommodate a multi-year construction project, and one lane was opened Thursday despite a state Department of Transportation announcement that this would not happen until Friday afternoon. The bridge is expected to have the other lane reopened in late March.

The partial reopening has come as welcome news to area residents and businesses. Tamara McKerchie, one of three people who opened The Upper Bend cafe and luncheonette in Turners Falls three years ago, said she was unaware of the bridge’s partial reopening but thinks it will help consumers more easily get to Avenue A.

“That’s awesome, I had not heard that. That matters for us,” she said behind the counter of her business early Friday afternoon. “It just makes it more accessible for people to get to town. It’s very round-about to have to drive around.”

McKerchie said the closure did not harm business at The Upper Bend but its reopening will likely increase the downtown flow of customers.

The $13.7 million rehabilitation is designed to keep the bridge standing for another 25 years. Northern Construction Service, of Palmer, is carrying out the project, which is mainly focused on rebuilding the deck and replacing the steel support structure below.

When reached by email, Communications Director Kristen Pennucci explained MassDOT recently negotiated a method with the contractor that would allow reopening a single lane earlier than was originally anticipated.

Remaining work that needs to be finished before the General Pierce Bridge’s full reopening includes the installation of a pedestrian lighting system, painting and the removal of the below-deck scaffolding system.

“The tradeoff is that some of the demobilization efforts may take longer, however, the bridge will be able to remain partially reopened,” Pennucci wrote in a statement.

According to MassDOT, temporary traffic signals will be deployed while the bridge is open with just one lane. The single lane of traffic restores the system that was in place prior to the start of the rehabilitation project.

“Finally,” said Eileen Dowd, sitting at a table with her husband, Jack Nelson, at The Upper Bend on Friday afternoon. “I understand that things take a long time, but it’s just such an inconvenience. So we’re excited.”

Nelson mentioned they had considered driving over to check out the bridge Thursday night but decided against it.

“We almost got up in the middle of the night to make a special trip,” he said with a laugh. “We got so excited.”

Nelson mentioned they might swing by after lunch to check out the situation.

Dowd said even one lane really helps commuters.

“I found a very efficient way through Greenfield,” Dowd said. “But ... when you live in a peninsula, one bridge down is one too many. And all of our bridges are in need of help. It’s kind of exciting when the work starts, but it’s not so exciting when it takes such a long time.”

Other Avenue A business owners who are thrilled about the partial reopening include John McNamara and Erin MacLean, who operate LOOT found + made.

“When we’re giving people directions in town or out of the town it’s kind of difficult having to send them in the opposite direction (across the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge),” McNamara said after finishing his food at The Upper Bend. “It’s going to make things so much easier.”

McNamara also said this should help downtown businesses become more visible.

“It’s another gateway to the town,” he said.

McNamara and MacLean opened their store 11 years ago.

“It does seem like ever since we opened the store there’s always been a broken bridge. So we roll with it,” McNamara said. “When we first opened the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge was … half-out.”

Greenfield resident Elizabeth Quilty said she does not drive but instead uses Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) buses, which she said will no longer have to take the inconvenient detour.

“It’s not a short trip,” she said at Green Fields Market on Friday morning.

Turners Falls resident Andrew Howell said he frequently used the General Pierce Bridge while growing up in the village but he tends to avoid it now.

“I think what they’re doing is a waste of money because they’re just repairing it, which they’ve done 10,000 times,” he said as hyperbole. “They’ve put patches on it over the years. The whole bridge needs to be replaced.”

He said he attended Greenfield Community College out of high school and he took the bridge every day.

“And once they reopened the (Turners Falls-Gill Bridge) I took that and hopped on (Interstate) 91,” Howell said. “I mean, I like that (the General Pierce) is reopened. … It’ll make the traffic a little easier. I think one lane is better than zero lanes. I’d like to see them completely redo the whole bridge. It definitely needs to be redone.”

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.

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