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Naples Asks State to Consider Rebuilt Bridge

July 03, 2008 - NAPLES -- The Maine Department of Transportation has still not decided on the shape, form and cost of a replacement bridge at the Bay of Naples. In fact, Maine DOT Commissiioner David Cole said the whole process has gone back to studies and plans -- and so it's likely there will be no new bridge until 2010, "at the earliest".

Naples interests countered this week: "Why not?"

In May, Naples voters decided, by a 3-to-2 margin in a straw poll, to support a swinging bridge; either a replacement, or a refurbishment-in-place for the current 50-plus-year-old structure. This, after the DOT's proposal to build a replacement swing bridge for $11 million faltered, because of skyrocketing construction costs. An alternate plan for $8 million, to include a fixed bridge and adjacent Causeway improvements, was the voters' second choice. They were mutually exclusive options.

Now, the process has been set back. A letter from Maine DOT Commissioner David Cole told selectmen that "we must consider regional and statewide impacts before making any decisions."

The state, Cole said, is "continuing to investigate and refine engineering options and resulting costs."

Naples selectmen, whose early June inquiry sparked Commissioner Cole's June 23rd reply, were not wholly satisfied with the state's answer. More than a dozen supporters of a moving bridge for Naples urged selectmen on Monday night to register those concerns - and so another letter will be written, urging quicker and more definitive action by the state.

Dan Allen, owner of Causeway Marina, said there is enough money on hand, dedicated to the Naples project, to do the refurbishment of the current structure this year. He said, "the state has $8 million. They can fix it starting this September. We can do this now." There doesn't have to be new money raised, he added, to do the refurbishment job, a dark horse idea which, Commissioner Cole acknowledged, has seen "continued local interest."

Selectman Christine Powers agreed, noting that "either $11 million or $8 million was supposed to go to this project...by 2010, where's that money going to be?"

Others noted that budget shortfalls and skyrocketing construction costs have created a voracious backlog of projects. (DOT Deputy Commissioner Bruce Van Note said at an earlier meeting that the $8 million for the fixed bridge and Causeway improvements project was a "go" starting this fall; but any other option would have to wait, and the money dedicated this biennium would go back into the bridge building fund.)

Others noted that, even if a new bridge is to be put in, in a future biennium, at the very least local citizens stand ready with input, to help the state planning process along.

Barbara Clark said that she had offered to help with an economic development study, mentioned in the Commissioner's letter, as that should be part of a cost-benefit study. She has not heard anything, she said Monday.

At any rate, Maggie Krainin said, local and state interests should be getting together regularly. She remembered a propsed meeting that had been "talked about for the middle of July." Commissioner Cole's letter referred to various options - but, Krainin said, going back all the way to Square One is not exactly streamlining the process. "The fixed bridge option should be off the books," she said.

The contention was that the only two concepts which made sense in the light of the May vote were swing options: either build new, or refurbish what's there. Independent expertise has submitted a considerably longer effective life for a bridge refurbished in place than the state's estimate, Maggie Krainin reiterated.

Selectman Powers said short-term fixes are crucial, and the town has suggested some in their letter to the Commissioner.

"A reduction in the opening schedule will save costs now," she said. A tighter schedule will mean fewer bridge openings, thus lessening the lost time for the vehicular traffic on Route 302.

Better signage is also a simple and cost-effective step. There are signs on the water, but none on 302, to tell people of the opening bridge ahead, or to hint at its schedule.

In addition, several suggested Monday, simple solutions to water traffic control would speed up the process. As it is now, boaters have trouble figuring out which side of the bridge has the right of way; a simple green and red stop-and-go system could even be done by hand, by the bridge operator, one suggestion went.

Town manager Derik Goodine said the following was the "key paragraph" in the Commissioner's June 23 letter:

"We are continuing to investigate the economic costs and benefits of fixed versus movable span options. This process will include an assessment of upfront capital costs and long-term maintenance costs. It will also consider regional economic impacts to the communities of the Route 302 corridor and the Lake Region. You and other impacted communities will have an opportunity to participate in meetings scheduled as part of that process, and we will keep you posted as to the progress of that effort."

The message in that, Goodine suggested, is "they're not just looking at boating." In fact, the focus may well be on the economic impacts to the waiting vehicular traffic on the road, while the estimates of direct and indirect economic benefits of the opening bridge to the boating and real estate industries "could well get lost," the manager said.

That's why dealing with a more restricted schedule, and figuring the cost of that, long-term, is so important, Powers said.

Maintenance is a big concern with a moving bridge, the MDOT has noted. Maintenance includes tending the bridge, and those personnel and related costs add up to extra millions over the years, the MDOT has contended

The MDOT has said it will be a problem for the state to come up with these extra maintenance costs. Commissioner Cole's suggestion was to, therefore, throw the weight of other associated costs on to Naples: "... if a movable span is selected, we suggest you explore other funding sources separate from this bridge project, such as economic development grants and our FHWA enhancement program." These monies would help pay for necessary Causeway improvements; Main Street Naples has made some plans for downtown enhancements, in concert with the bridge project. Those coordinating plans will have to be put on hold, if the bridge project is indeed shelved.

For now, any money directly or indirectly involved must be considered more or less theoretical. The MDOT is moving on, dealing with this year's State bridge projects this year. And, according to the Commissioner's letter, those State bridge projects don't include Naples.

This article first appeared in the Bridgton News, July 3, 2008.


Lakes: Long Lake
Regions: Sebago


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