GRANTHAM — The bridge that carries Olde Farms Road over Sawyer Brook in Grantham was closed indefinitely on Thursday due to the results of an NH DOT inspection conducted in the fall that found the bridge to be in critical condition.
As of now, there is no access to Olde Farms Road from Dunbar Hill past 862 Olde Farms Road. There is also no access to Dunbar Hill from upper portions of Olde Farms, Walker Road, Chester Road, Rowland Road, Silo Lane, New Aldridge Road and Rawson Ridge.
The bridge was constructed in 1965, according to Grantham town administrator Emily Owens.
The culvert of the bridge went from serious condition to critical condition between the two most recent annual inspections, the first in October 2024 and the second in September 2025.
“NHDOT bridge inspectors noted section loss and heavy corrosion below the water line along the length of the culvert inlet,” reads the inspection.
The reason for a five-month period between the state inspection and notification of deficiency is unclear, though Owens was told it had to do with staffing shortages, she said Thursday by phone.
While the bridge needs to be barricaded off, Grantham residents will be able to get to and from their destinations via detours, said Police Chief John Parsons. Those who live on the impacted streets will likely experience extended travel times.
“The only kind of headache so to speak, is it prevents people from getting large-scale deliveries,” said Parsons.
An access point to the area south of 862 Olde Farms Road, an I-89 underpass, is just 12-feet-2-inches tall, limiting truck traffic.
More than 50 residents may be affected by this route change, though there is no concern for emergency services, said Parsons.
“All the town’s fire apparatuses can fit underneath that,” he said.
Grantham schools may face the largest impact with potential changes to bus routes, Owens said.
While state funding is available for bridge replacements, Owens was told there is a four-year waiting list.
“The town is implementing safety measures and working to identify temporary and long-term solutions,” said Owens.
The next step is for the town to consult a professional engineer to calculate an updated load rating of the existing structure. That potentially could allow the town to reopen the bridge to passenger cars while a more permanent solution is sought.
Residents are asked to notify service providers, such as waste management companies, of the closure.