NORTHFIELD — Until bridge renovations are complete, the existing bridge on the west side of School Street, which connects two trails in the Mill Brook wetlands area, will be closed to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

“It was going to cost us over $30,000 to buy the temporary stuff to keep it open,” explained Highway Superintendent Tom Walker. “That’s why we decided to close it and to put that money toward the design or repairs.”

Walker explained that the beams underneath are rotted. He said the town received a Massachusetts Department of Transportation grant through the Municipal Small Bridge Program, which will cover the cost of the engineering portion of the project. A firm, however, hasn’t been hired yet.

As of Tuesday evening, Walker wasn’t sure what portion of the project could be paid for using Chapter 90 funds — of which Northfield has about $600,000 — and therefore, what the town will be expected to fund on its own.

The conversation between Walker and the Selectboard Tuesday evening was prompted by concerns from trail users who hoped there was some means by which the two trails could be connected.

“When people are hiking those trails, they need to go up on that road and to the other side to cross the brook, and now they can’t do that,” said Joanne McGee, who also serves as a member of the Open Space Committee. “We’re hoping there’s some way that … someone could move those Jersey barriers, so someone can slide through and walk to the other side.”

Walker, however, responded that any potential means for opening the bridge to trail users would be a liability to the town.

“I wish there was something different we could do to make it easier for everybody to walk and bike,” he said, “but it would turn into a liability.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter (X): @MaryEByrne.