Goose Hill Road in Jefferson will be closed between Rt. 126 and Orff Road from July 14 until about Oct. 31 while the Maine Dept. of Transportation replaces the bridge on that road.
The closure will create a four-mile detour for residents traveling to areas near the bridge, DOT officials said at a public hearing on Nov. 3, 2010; alternate routes will be marked with temporary signs.
Closing the road, rather than maintaining one lane across the bridge during construction, will make the project less expensive, create a lower impact on the surrounding area, and ultimately “we’ll get a better bridge,” DOT Project Manager Steve Bodge said at the public hearing.
The Davis No. 2 Bridge, which is being replaced, carries Goose Hill Road over Davis Stream. The project is expected to cost just under $500,000, none of which will come from town funds, Bodge said.
Currently, the bridge has a six-ton weight limit, which prevents school buses and industrial vehicles from crossing the bridge. This has created a problem for some residents, such as Nathan Northrup, who said his trucks frequently drive through the area. After replacement, the weight limit will be significantly higher, officials said.
