Long Awaited Bridge Work Begins

It’s been a very long time in coming.

Preparation work has now begun in advance of what will be a very long but also welcome construction project for many residents of the Midcoast–the replacement of the Frank J. Wood Bridge that links Brunswick and Topsham over the Androscoggin River.

Topsham Public Works Director Dennis Cox has told the Topsham Select Board that the contractor, Reed and Reed Construction, has begun setting up access to the river, and expects to be working in the river on or about August 1 on necessary abutment work.

Cox says one uniqueness of this project involves temporary supports being installed for the current bridge, which will be bolted to the ledge of the river, rather than piling being driven into the river bottom. This will be more environmentally sound with less disruption to fish and other aqua life along the river bottom.

Also soon to begin is detour work involving sidewalks. with pedestrian traffic to be shifted and temporary crosswalks installed with flashing lights on crosswalks at both ends of the bridge.

Two-way traffic on the new bridge won’t begin until the latter part of 2025. Additionally, work on new parks on both sides of the new bridge is not expected to finish until early 2026.