NEVERSINK — The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is currently reviewing a proposed bridge replacement project on Flugertown Road in the Town of Neversink – and they want the community’s thoughts.

This project, part of NBRC’s Timber for Transit Program, involves replacing the aging Bridge 368, which spans Willowemoc Creek, with a safer and more modern structure. Construction will start April 2026 and will last until September of that year.

To involve the public and encourage transparency, NBRC is now accepting comments from anyone with an interest in the project or in the protection of the natural environment. Community members, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders are invited to provide feedback, raise concerns or suggest alternative approaches and locations.

Public comments will be accepted via email until the end of day on April 22. Messages can be sent to nepa@nbrc.gov.

Bridge specs

The proposed new bridge will continue to support a single lane of two-way traffic for both vehicles and pedestrians. Plans call for removing and replacing the existing bridge with one that uses advanced glue-laminated timber construction, a more durable and sustainable alternative to the current structure’s outdated nail-laminated timber deck.

 The new bridge would also be slightly larger, with the span increasing from 25.4 feet to 30 feet and the width expanding from 12 feet to 16 feet. This added space is expected to improve safety and accessibility for those crossing the creek. The bridge’s height would also be raised from 5.5 feet to 6 feet above the creek bottom.

Construction will stay within the existing footprint of the road, though some excavation will be needed to accommodate the larger bridge. The updates include new abutments, wing walls, superstructure, and railing—all designed to meet current standards and improve long-term resilience.

Because the project site lies within a federally recognized 100-year floodplain, as indicated by FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and also overlaps with a classified riverine wetland, the NBRC is conducting a detailed environmental assessment.

This process follows federal Executive Orders 11988 and 11990, which require agencies to carefully consider floodplain and wetland impacts before proceeding. As part of this process, the NBRC is preparing an 8-Step Environmental Review to ensure the project does not cause unnecessary environmental harm and that any adverse impacts are minimized or mitigated.