South Bristol Bridge Proposal Approved

The Maine DOT bridged South Bristol’s troubled waters Thursday when residents approved a preliminary conceptual plan to replace the swing bridge over “The Gut.”

“I am so relieved. The renderings (of the proposed bridge) will make me sleep better at night,” said Barbara Pickett, who lives next to the swinging bridge over the tiny opening separating Rutherford Island from the mainland.

Cautioning the audience that plans are not set in stone, DOT planner Duane Scott called the approval meeting the “end of the beginning” of the process to replace the bridge.

Replacement of the failing and unreliable mechanical structure, constructed in 1933, has been a contentious community issue since 2000. Other meetings with DOT officials have erupted into shouting matches with some citizens breaking into applause when an earlier version was dubbed “ugly.” Town officials say vocal opponents have delayed the project.

On March 11, the DOT’s fourth attempt at a community meeting, the crowd was different. After being shown a slide show of conceptual designs, the crowd accepted the DOT’s suggested replacement.

“I want it to be invisible and as graceful as possible,” said one citizen while fisherman Chuck Plummer said he just wanted a new bridge.

Proposed bridge and timetableThe DOT presentation proposed a one piece draw bridge called a “Heel Trunnion Bascule bridge, over four other alternatives that included repairing the current bridge, a nearly $10 million solution that would not last very long.

Scott said the DOT is ready to move forward, but said officials are “still looking for public input” on the project. “We want to be respectful of what you folks want,” he said.

The suggested DOT timetable for the replacement is admittedly tentative, but Scott said the community agreement means the agency will seek funding for the replacement during the 2012-2013 funding cycle. This could mean the new bridge might be ready for the ribbon cutting in 2015.

“That would be good. In 2015, we will celebrate the town’s centennial,” said Selectman Chester Rice.

Questions answeredContract bridge engineer Vincent N. Campisi presented a PowerPoint presentation that answered a series of citizens’ questions raised at the last meeting with citizens on Nov. 11.

Estimated costs of the replacement would run somewhere in the neighborhood of $6-7 million, Campisi said.

During construction, traffic would be maintained, using a one lane, one-way temporary bypass bridge, said the bridge engineer from CHA, a public works consulting firm.

Fire chief Mitch Mitchell said the proposed temporary bridge could be adequate for emergency vehicles.

In response to citizen’s questions, Campisi said:

• The proposed design will have unlimited vertical clearance to allow sailboats with tall masts to use the channel.

• The design will feature a channel that is slightly wider (30 feet) than the current channel (26 feet).

• State officials will attempt to convince the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the channel to help local fishing boats from scraping the bottom at low tide.

• The proposed design will be able to be operated in a gale featuring 40 to 45 miles per hour winds.

• The proposed design will be quieter than the current bridge.

• The mechanical operating mechanism will be out of the water saving future maintenance costs.

Current bridge is failingA state report says the current bridge is one of the most frequently operated bridges in the country as DOT figures show it opens 1600 times a month and more than 8000 openings each year.

An inspection by state officials rates its condition as poor because some floor beams and stringers have failed limiting the load bearing capacity to 12 tons.

The mechanical components are in poor shape as the wedges are no longer able to raise the structure to the level of the road. The gears driving the bridge are misaligned, worn and severely deteriorated because they are frequently submerged.

In order to repair the bridge, some of the beams and stringers will have to be replaced in addition to replacement of flanges that have experienced severe section losses,

Additional problems are created because high tides flood the bridge mechanical systems causing maintenance costs to soar.

The remaining useful life of the bridge with current level of increased maintenance is estimated at five years.

Bridge decoration rejectedThe bridge has been the topic of replacement for years as it frequently fails, requiring bridge tenders to pull it closed using pick up trucks or, in come cases, by hand, said Harbormaster Cecil Burnham.

“One time, it stuck open and I had to use my boat to bring school kids across the gut,” said Bruce Morton.

DOT officials suggestions for the replacement design and construction timetable were generally accepted, however, the citizens turned thumbs down when Campisi showed possible suggestions for signs and decorations for the proposed structure.

“Maybe we should get (The Lincoln County News cartoonist and Newcastle illustrator) Glenn Chadbourne to draw something on it,” suggested Kenny Lincoln, a Selectman.

“The color should be green,” said Chester Rice as the crowd assented.

Morton, a member of the town board of appeals, said he just wanted a new bridge.

“I live on the (Rutherford) Island and don’t want to be stuck,” he said.