Conway Celebrates Reopening Of Covered Bridge

Conway is celebrating the reopening of one of the state's few original covered bridges to motor vehicle traffic.

The Franklin County town's Select Board and Historical Commission are holding a formal reopening celebration at the Burkeville Covered Bridge on Sunday.

The 1871 bridge is one of three original covered bridges remaining in Massachusetts.

The Recorder of Greenfield reports that the bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic for 28 years.

Pedestrians, bicyclists and horses have been allowed to use the bridge since a $1 million repair job in 2003, but state transportation officials advised against allowing motorized traffic to use the bridge due to safety concerns.

The state Department of Transportation said in July it was up to the town whether it wanted to open the bridge to traffic.