Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Great Barrington Select Board met on April 14, 2026, to hear an update and discuss repair options for the sinkhole that formed at the Division Street Bridge over the Housatonic River. Engineers from Tie and Bond presented findings from their investigation, including a dye test, and outlined two repair options. Following public comment and board deliberation, the board voted 3-1 to proceed with a local excavation and compaction repair, with a commitment to reconvene if the fix proves unworkable or unsafe.
Division Street Bridge Sinkhole Update Town Manager Liz introduced Dan Holmes and Andrea Lacasse from Tie and Bond Engineering, who were contracted to evaluate the sinkhole that appeared in mid-March 2026.
Repair Options Presented
Board Deliberation
Okay, pursuant to MTL 7330A 20F. After notifying the chair of a public body, any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting of a public body or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Beginning of the meeting, the chair shall inform other attendees of any such recordings. This meeting is being recorded by Berkshire Edge by CTSB and the town of Great Barrington. Any member of the public wishing to speak at the meeting must receive permission of the chair. The listing of agenda items or those reasonably anticipated by the chair, which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed, and other items not listed, may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. So roll call. Phil here. Eric. Here and Steve. Four select board members present. Select board's announcements, statements, Phil. Uh nothing. Thank you. Garfield. I'm just saying I appreciate the uh DPW guys putting the um signage on the road down by the uh senior center in the big Y and then painting that and sticking that uh divider, if you will, in the middle of that of that crosswalk. So thank you, gentlemen and ladies. Yes. Uh Eric. I have nothing at this time. Thank you. And nothing from a town manager report. Do you have anything, Liz? No, nothing to report. Okay, new business as soon as they're on the division street bridge update and discussion. Yeah, I don't know why he's not here yet. I'm gonna try calling him. He did say that he's working on joining right now, so Steve, I think we're good to go. Go right ahead, Liz. Introduce your our guests, then let's move ahead. Sure. So we have um tie and bond. Uh I did contract with them to do an evaluation of the sinkhole that had popped up a couple of weeks ago or earlier last month, mid-last month, on I think it was the 19th or 20th of March. And um, and so they have done an evaluation. They did an actual on-site evaluation with the assistance of our DPW team. And um, they're here to give you uh reports of their findings, also uh some options for the board to consider moving forward. Um, and so I will take it over or I'll push it over to Dan Holmes, who is in charge of this project. Is that coming through? Yes, it is. Thank you. All right. All right, sorry about this, folks. Uh, good evening, everyone. My name's Dan Holmes.