After years of planning, public meetings, and redesigns, South Bristol is getting closer to having a new bridge.
The work to replace the 1933 swing bridge with a drawbridge will continue Monday, Sept. 14, when construction company Cianbro, of Pittsfield, will start work on a temporary bridge, said Maine Department of Transportation Project Manager Michael Wight.
The channel will be closed to boat traffic starting Oct. 21, as the temporary structure will not open and close. Wight said boats wishing to access the harbor will have to travel around Rutherford Island.
Traffic will be switched to the one-lane, temporary bridge starting Nov. 3. Wight said the detour will be controlled by a traffic light.
“The detour is fairly narrow, so bigger vehicles will need to be cautious,” Wight said.
Cianbro will demolish the swing bridge and construct the new bridge while traffic is on the temporary bridge.
Traffic is scheduled to switch from the temporary bridge to the new drawbridge May 18, 2016. Once the bridge is open, the detour will be removed and the channel will reopen to boat traffic on May 22.
“Right now, everything is on schedule, but we can’t account for the unforeseen,” Wight said. “Weather can always be an issue, but we won’t know until the time comes.”
Wight stressed the most important thing members of the community can do is be patient.
“We’re going to do our best to keep the traffic flowing,” Wight said.