Wachusett Greenways

September 2003 Activities

Connecting the Wachusett Community with Trails and Greenways 

                                       

          

The refurbished Big Dig bridge for the "Quag" at Lake Waushucum in Sterling was delivered temporarily to the MDC land
at Manning Street, Holden (9-4-03). Last January, volunteer efforts by Leahy Excavating of Holden moved the bridges from the rail trail  in Sterling and brought to Oxford, MA for restoration

 QUAG BRIDGE PAINTED, MOVES CLOSER TO STERLING

SOUTH OXFORD   BC Industries has sandblasted and painted two 50 foot long Big Dig bridges which will be placed side by side
over the Quag in Sterling. The bridges were donated to Wachusett Greenways by Kiewit Corp. Greenways had new railings
installed on the bridges, and now they have been sandblasted and painted by BC Industries of South Oxford. Ron Carson of
West Boylston is head of BC Industries, he walks the Mass Central Rail Trail in Oakdale most mornings before going to work,
and he has donated the bridge prep and painting. His plant is capable of sandblasting and painting huge structures up to
100 feet long inside their two buildings.

Ted Leahy of Leahy Excavating, of Holden, is donating transportation of the bridges back to Holden, where they will await
the completion of the abutments at the Quag in Sterling. Greenways expects the abutments to be finished and the two
sections to be set in place this fall. Leahy has donated his firm’s services twice now, transporting the two halves of the
bridge from Sterling to Oxford, and now back again to Holden. He expects to help once more, taking the two sections to
Sterling for their final installation.

When the bridge is complete, the Sterling Spur will run from the Cider Mill in Sterling Center south to Gates Road. The
trail is now suitable for walking and mountain bikes. After the bridge is installed, the next step will be completion of
the 1 ¾ mile trail surface from Sterling Center to Gates Road.

 

Sterling Fair 2003

                           

 

Volunteer members of the Wachusett Greenways at the Sterling Fair booth greeting people at the entrance due to the obscure location of our table in the rear of this tent.