06/10/2026
June 10, 2026
***Update on the West Street Bridge***
As everyone is aware, the West Street Bridge has been closed to traffic since late last summer, August 2025. Since that time, in conjunction with MassDOT, the City of Springfield has completed numerous inspections and completed preliminary project scoping for the repairs to the bridge, in order to get the bridge back open to traffic. The bridge is jointly owned by the City of Springfield and the Town of Ludlow.
As part of the overall coordination with MassDOT, it has been determined that the Putts Bridge (Route 21 – Parker Street) is in the early design process by MassDOT, for a full replacement of the bridge over the Chicopee River. An exact schedule is unknow at this time but it is anticipated that work would start in 2028-2029.
It is the opinion of the City of Springfield and MassDOT, that the West Street Bridge, due to its age and condition will eventually need to be fully replaced. That replacement process through MassDOT will take years to complete, therefore the needed repairs to the West Street Bridge need to be longer term in order to support the traffic that may be detoured as part of the future Putts Bridge project, and until a new bridge can be put in place at the West Street site.
As part of the analysis of the issues occurring at the West Street Bridge, there were a number of “quick fixes” that were considered, however, based upon the need to have the bridge open and in acceptable condition while the construction of the Putts Bridge takes place became the deciding factor and the design scope needed to be increased. All involved parties are trying to avoid multiple openings / closings with “quick fix” options.
At the beginning of May 2026, the City and its designers met with MassDOT to present the proposed more in depth repair options. In general, the concepts for repairs were agreed upon by MassDOT and the City then engaged our design consultant to begin the design, which is ongoing now.
Once the design is complete, it will need to be submitted to MassDOT for approval through their Chapter 85 process. Once it is approved, the City of Springfield will then put the project out to bid. The City will need to coordinate with the Town of Ludlow as the bridge has “joint ownership” and each community with have some level of financial responsibility.
Springfield DPW Director, Christopher Cignoli, P.E., stated, “We know that the closure of the West Street Bridge has resulted in a major impact to the public, however, due to the condition of the structure, and the future planned work on the Putts Bridge project, all involved parties wanted to make sure that the repairs were longer term that what was originally identified. As we have more information of the exact schedule we will share it with the public”.
While no exact schedule can be shared at this time, it is the intent of the City to have the repairs completed this calendar year, and have the bridge re-opened to full traffic.
