Bristol Select Board member Paul Yates (left) inspects photos presented by Sandee Brackett of her wharf in New Harbor that sustained significant damage during the storms on Jan. 10 and Jan. 13. (Johnathan Riley photo)
At its Wednesday, Jan. 17 meeting, Bristol Select Board members received repair estimates from damage caused by the storms on Jan. 10 and Jan. 13 and agreed to postpone the $1.43 million Hatchtown Bridge project, hoped to begin this summer on Lower Round Pond Road.
“I definitely don’t want to ask the town at this point to replace the bridge given the circumstances,” said Bristol Select Board Chair Chad Hanna.
Based on estimates filed with Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency by Bristol Town Administrator Rachel Bizarro, Bristol Parks Director Shelley Gallagher, Bristol Parks Commissioner Clyde Pendleton, and Bristol Fire Department Chief Scott Sutter, damages of town roads and Bristol Parks’ properties is $2,217,000.
The most expensive estimates are $880,500 for Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, $320,500 for Pemaquid Beach Park, and $786,000 for Long Cove Point Road, according to Bizarro.
Long Cove Point Road is currently passable for the residents of Chamberlain and emergency vehicles, but is closed to the public until further notice, according to Hanna.
Hanley Construction is currently working on repairing the road, Hanna said, with the aim to increase the height of the road by 18 inches and to install barrier walls that will rise above the height of the road.
Route 32 in Chamberlain, adjacent to Long Cove Road, sustained significant damage and will remain closed for at least six weeks with Lower Round Pond Road being used as a detour, according to Hanna. The state maintains Route 32 and will cover the cost of repairs.
Other town roads that were damaged include Pemaquid Loop Road, West Strand Road, Fish Point Road, and Back Shore Road. Each road incurred around $50,000 worth of damage, according to Hanna.
Additionally, Hanna said New Harbor sustained the most structural damage with several fish houses and wharfs completely washed away in the storm. However, the cleanup the day after the storm was successful because of a strong community effort, according to Hanna.
“It was an impressive effort all around,” Hanna said. “We can’t thank all who contributed enough.”
Hanna also said it was likely the harbor avoided additional damage due to the quick removal of debris from the water after the first storm.
Sandee Brackett presented the select board with photos of the damage her wharf in New Harbor incurred during the storms. Hanna urged Brackett to continue to document the damage and file claims with the state in order to give her the best shot at receiving funds.
In other news, Pendleton and Gallagher reported that, despite a rainy, slow start to the season, revenue for the parks exceeded expenses in 2023.
The surplus, according to Pendleton, will be used toward renovating the restrooms at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park this summer. The new restrooms will include sections for men, women, and families, each with its own accessible area.
The Bristol Select Board’s next scheduled meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Bristol town office.
Laurie Mahan (front), a member of the Bristol Parks and Recreation Commission, studies photos of damage to Sandee Bracketts wharf in New Harbor during the Bristol Select Boards Wednesday, Jan. 17 meeting as fellow Commissioners Sandra Lane and Clyde Pendleton look on. (Johnathan Riley photo)
