CLARKSBURG — The state will close the Route 8 bridge on River Road, the town’s central artery, while it makes a temporary fix.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will build a temporary bridge on top of the existing Red Mills Bridge on River Road, or Route 8, said Clarksburg Town Administrator Ron Boucher. He expected the state would start building it in February or March and it would be closed for about two months to install the temporary bridge, though an official timeline had not been yet been determined.

“After [the temporary bridge is installed], it would be returned to normal,” Boucher said.

Route 8 also serves as the highway into Vermont. With the bridge closed, traffic into Vermont will be directed toward Route 2 and up to North Eagle Street.

The state highway bridge has been deemed structurally deficient by the state and is being replaced with funds from the Transportation Improvement Program. It is slated for completion in 2029.

Boucher spoke with MassDOT on Monday and said that the temporary bridge on River Road may extend past the original bridge and block access to the adjacent East Road. Because East Road is a connecting point from Daniels Road, Boucher said he and town officials have urged the state to find a way to keep one lane open at least for emergency vehicles and large trucks that would have more trouble navigating through narrow surrounding roads.

Without the East Road access point off of Route 8, vehicles would have to completely circle Route 8, traveling from Cross Road to Middle Road to Henderson Road and then to East Road. Or, they could travel south, heading down Route 8 to Beaver Street in North Adams, then on to Union Street and finally to Walker Street.

“They need to find a way to keep that open just for emergency vehicles access,” Boucher said. “[Vehicles] could go around [East Road], but it's a lot quicker, especially just for emergency vehicles. That was another question I had for [MassDOT] on Monday, so they're still working on a plan for that.”

The state is also expediting the town’s Middle Road bridge repair with emergency repair funding. The bridge that goes over Hudson Brook needs a girder replaced and was in early engineering phases.

“We asked the state for some help with it, and the state agreed to help us because of the inconvenience of the Route 8 bridge,” Boucher said.

He said that MassDOT engineers are already out at the Middle Road bridge and are aiming to repair it as soon as possible, which will be helpful because that road will be an access point around town when the Route 8 bridge is closed.

“It worked out nice for us," he said. "For a little inconvenience here, it's gonna help the town.”