Ogunquit News
More rains mean more problems for Captain Thomas Bridge repairs
By C. Ayn Douglass
Rainy weather conditions recently stalled construction of the Captain Thomas Bridge, scheduled to be completed later this month. Officials are counting on a few more days of warm weather to allow paving in order to complete the project before winter.
Photo by C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - Rebuilding of the Captain Thomas Road bridge that was washed out in the May storm hit a snag as a result of the heavy rains that occurred over the weekend of Oct. 28 and 29.
According to Town Manager Phil Clark, the weather interfered with pouring the concrete.
"The river rose and they couldn't pour the concrete," he said. "They've been pumping out the middle between the two dams but they had to redesign the Ogunquit side of the bridge. The footings were going on the ledge but the ledge gave out."
The only concern now, according to Clark, is that the outside temperatures hold to 45 Fahrenheit degrees or more in order to allow paving.
"The bridge parts will come in on Thursday (Nov. 9) and they will put down the corrugated surface, but the question is whether Mother Nature will allow the paving to be done," he said.
According to Department of Transportation regulations, the corrugated surface must be covered before traffic is permitted on the bridge.
By contract, the completion date for the bridge is Nov. 16.
