A former railroad bridge across the Charles River has been used for many years as an informal pedestrian connection between Christina Street in Newton and the Blue Heron Trail in Needham. The trail on the Needham side of the river connects to Cutler Park, Nahanton Park, and the Helen Heyn Riverway.
The abandoned railroad right-of-way on the north side of Christina Street has been proposed for conversion into a pedestrian trail that would connect to the Upper Falls Greenway.
In 2019, concern about the structural integrity of the bridge led to its closure. In 2021, the City of Newton began to study options for restoring or replacing the bridge.
On May 26, 2021, the city held a Community Engagement Meeting to present the preliminary results of the study and to solicit public comments. The meeting presentation can be viewed on the project page.
