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Naples Causeway Bridge Plans "Slowing Down"

February 22, 2008 - Naples -- No new Naples bridge project will get under way this year. Naples Causeway will purr along this summer, same as it ever has.

The Maine Department of Transportation says it will wait on public input on three bridge options, before anything happens to Naples.

So, how would the state proceed?

At a January 30th public hearing in Naples, meeting attendees "clearly supported a swing span operation," said Bruce Van Note, MDOT Deputy Commissioner. "This is a tough call," he added, because MDOT "must weigh regional input and the increasing bridge needs of our entire state. And we need to act before the old bridge stops functioning."

The MDOT has been aiming at first for a new drawbridge, and the last year set aside $11 million for a new Bay of Naples Bridge Project, to begin in 2008. Problem was, when cost estimates came in, they settled at $18 million. Too high. So much higher than expected, in fact, that the lift bridge option is no longer being considered.

On the other hand, a fixed span project might cost, at the outside, $6 million, the MDOT later said; as a bonus, this plan would free up the extra earmarked $5 million to do other projects around the state. ( Maine must double its maintenance and bridge rebuilding schedule, just to keep up, as bridges are deteriorating faster than they can be upgraded, MDOT spokesmen have said.)

A third option, a new swing span structure, would cost about $14.5 million, according to the latest estimates. Since that project can't proceed this year, either, as not enough money is in the kitty even for that option, the MDOT is "slowing down" and taking the next few months to receive public input.

The fourth option -- counting the one non-viable drawbridge option -- is the rehabilitation of the current bridge, at a projected cost of $8 million. The problem with this idea is, such a structure would be good for only about 20 years, the MDOT estimates -- so the cost effectiveness of rehab is low.

The estimated life of the two other options runs to 80 years. So, for now, the MDOT outlines of these plans: 1) the old bridge will be kept going for an additional year, 2) design work will be performed on both the fixed span any news fixed span, the better defined cost estimates, 3) an independent consulting firm will be hired to perform a regional impact study, to help evaluate costs and benefits, and 4)MDOT will communicate with town officials in Bridgton, Casco, Frye Island, Harrison, Naples, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham, to get their input on the projects "impact and value."


Source: The Bridgton News Feb 21, 2008

Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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