HALIFAX- Town purchasing agent Joseph Tamburrino reported progress on several bridge projects at Tuesday night’s selectboard meeting. The design and plan for the Reed Hill bridge, Tamburrino said, will be completed by the end of the week (May 18), ready for town approval. Tamburrino said he doesn’t know whether SVE Associates has already presented the design for state approval or plans to wait for town approval before doing so. The same question applies to the plans for the bridges at Hale and Deer Park roads. By the terms of the purchase order, the firm is responsible for obtaining the state approvals required for federal and state reimbursement. Tamburrino said he hopes to have the answers before the week is out.

The plan for the Hale Road bridge should be ready for selectboard approval by June 1. Alternatives for decking material for the bridge at Deer Park Road, with cost comparisons, are ready for presentation to the board, with the plan to be completed within three weeks of the board’s decision. The board hopes to meet with the firm to discuss the Reed Hill and Deer Park road plans on May 25, at 3 or 3:30 pm, following its scheduled meeting with the FEMA rep.

The engineering grant for the bridge on Old County North Road will go to Holden Engineering, Tamburrino said. Holden’s bid is $12,811. The board scheduled a site visit and meeting with Holden for May 29, at 1 pm. Unlike the other bridges, the Old County North bridge structure is not being replaced because of damage from Tropical Storm Irene, so actual construction lies in the future and will depend on the availability of normal state bridge grants.

Board chair Lewis Sumner reported that the state has asked for additional documentation on town ownership of the Weir Road bridge. Reimbursement for money already spent on that structure depends on state acceptance of the fact that it is part of a class IV road never discontinued by the town.

Board member Earl Holtz told his colleagues that he delivered a spreadsheet detailing possibly hazardous river bank debris, with documenting photos, to Drew Adam of the USDA. The information was collected as part of Green Up Day; the survey covered locations at Hale Road, Green River Road, and parts of Route 112. Edee Edwards asked if information on another portion of Route 112 can be added. Holtz said it could.

The board hopes that the next step will be a site visit by an expert who can evaluate the potential hazards of the debris documented by the survey. According to Adam, Holtz said, “One or two trees across the river isn’t going to get these people excited.” Edwards asked Holtz to notify Christina Moore know that he delivered the information to Adam, as Moore is listed as the contact person.

Continuing the riverine theme, Tamburrino relayed a request from highway supervisor Bradley Rafus for 300 yards of three-foot rip rap needed to stabilize Irene-damaged banks along Branch and Brook roads. The material will need to be delivered, Tamburrino said, as the weight is too great for the town’s truck. The cost, he warned, is “going to be over $3,000.”

Edwards asked whether this is damage that has already been documented or not. Tamburrino said he didn’t know. The board directed Tamburrino to consult Moore, who is project manager for FEMA-related work, to determine whether paperwork on these sites has already been started. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow,” Tamburrino replied.

On the good news side, Edwards reported that an additional $29,500 in FEMA reimbursements has been received by the town.