York Town News
Passaconaway Bridge project moving forward as public talks continue
By Larry Favinger
YORK - There seems to be no problem with the Maine Department of Transportation's plans to replace the collapsed Passaconaway Bridge with a three-span structure, but the same can't be said of the question of what rails to use on the bridge or a decision not to include sidewalks.The three-span, 150-foot bridge that is MDOT's preferred plan got little attention at a public meeting held on Thursday, June 15, at the York Public Library, as most of the discussion from the group of about 40 people focused on the other two issues.
MDOT hopes to have plans approved and on the way within the 180-day period following the storm that destroyed the bridge, as required to qualify for full repayment of the project from the Federal Highway Administration.
Should Maine miss that target the cost would be split 80 percent FHA and 20 percent state.
Bridge Project Manager Jim Wentworth said the old bridge was 20-feet wide and the new one as proposed would be 25 feet.
"That seems to be fitting best right now," he said.
The new bridge will be built to meet 100-year flood specifications, Wentworth said. He said the storm that struck the coast early this month created "extraordinary circumstances. There was a lot of water coming down through there," he said.
The project of replacing the bridge is expected to cost in excess of $2 million.
Wentworth said the aim of the department is to have plans finalized in the near future with work beginning after Labor Day of this year. If those targets are met, he said, the new bridge should be up and operating by July 4, 2007.
"We're trying to get this out the door quickly," he said of the plan.
Wentworth said the railing preferred is like the one on Rice's Bridge, which crosses the York River on Route 1, but an alternative would be a more fancy concrete Texas rail that is more decorative but also more expensive to construct and maintain than the galvanized steel in the preferred alternative.
By a show of hands, those in attendance at last week's meeting appeared to be evenly split on which of the rails should be used. The main reason given for the more fancy structure was that it would fit in more with the historic character of the town.
As to a sidewalk, Wentworth noted there was not one on the old bridge, so the Federal Highway Administration would not likely pay for the addition of one on a new bridge.
There's also a second problem, he said.
"It doesn't fit well," he said, noting that to put it on either side "doesn't align well" with the road approaching the bridge.
There was some discussion with the York Public Works Department about the possibility of the town putting sidewalks on the approaches to the bridge where there are none now to enhance the chances of having them on the bridge, even if the town must pick up some of the cost. The final decision on the bridge, railing and sidewalks rests with the Maine Department of Transportation, but Wentworth said every effort is being made to cooperate with the town in this project.
Wentworth said the sidewalk and rail options would be taken under advisement as the plans go forward. Either way, there will be another public meeting to discuss what is preferred.
"We're moving quickly," Wentworth said, but added, "We are listening. We'll be back here very soon. We're under the gun. We're trying."
York Police Chief Doug Bracy said the MDOT has been "wonderful to work with" and there has been "nothing but cooperation" since the bridge was destroyed by the flood.
