Restoring the Landmark Bridge of Flowers
The Bridge of Flowers has reopened after a year of repairs, allowing visitors to once again enjoy this landmark in Shelburne Falls, all in time to enjoy the earthy hues of autumn given its backdrop in Western Massachusetts. Our engineers partnered with the Shelburne Falls Fire District to perform a structural inspection of the bridge, then designed repairs and assisted in evaluating sources of funding for the rehabilitation work.
The Bridge of Flowers has a storied history, originally opened as a trolley bridge in 1908. Twenty years later, following the closure of the railway, residents developed the unique plan of reviving the bridge as a linear garden, and the Bridge of Flowers Committee was organized to facilitate repairs and reconstruction.
Then more recently (in 2011), Hurricane Irene overflowed the Deerfield River and flooded the surrounding area, raising concerns of the structural stability of the bridge. Following the storm, the Shelburne Falls Fire District engaged our team to perform a structural evaluation of the bridge using UAV systems (drones), evaluating pier footings for overall stability and signs of scour. The use of UAV systems allowed for rapid documentation of existing conditions throughout the bridge structure. Later, the Fire District engaged our team to design the corrective repairs.
During the design efforts, our team faced the challenge of having limited site plans for the bridge. Using 3D scanning allowed us to create a comprehensive data snapshot of the structure, including interior sections of the bridge which had little or no documentation. The assessment provided a more detailed understanding of how the structure had deteriorated since its original construction, and updated records which can be used for future restoration efforts.
The rehabilitation included the replacement of a section of the bridge wall, repairs to external concrete, new handrails, lighting, and irrigation, and replacement of the water main. The bridge reopened in August, providing Western Massachusetts residents and visitors access to a unique and colorful destination.
A view of the Bridge of Flowers before, during, and after repairs.