After years of requests from Deer Isle and Stonington to start the process of replacing the 89-year-old bridge that connects their island to the mainland, the state is beginning early steps to determine what could be next for the structure.
Still, a Maine Department of Transportation spokesperson said Friday that the department has “no plan” to replace it and it’s too early to discuss any possibilities.
The span carrying Route 15 over Eggemoggin Reach opened in 1939, replacing ferry service, and is the only road off the island. A mainland connection is crucial for island residents, who rely on it for access to services, jobs, supplies, workers, tourism dollars and sales outlets for its major lobster industry.
Meanwhile, an inspection report of the bridge’s condition conducted last spring showed no critical problems.
A replacement would be a major undertaking – possibly the most expensive highway and bridge project in Maine’s history, the department estimated in 2024 – and tens of millions have been spent on repairing the existing one, which the state plans to keep in service as long as is feasible.
It can stay in service for a minimum of 20-25 years with ongoing maintenance and repairs, the department wrote in bid documents last summer.
But the department is set to start a feasibility study in the coming months that will include early planning for a “future comprehensive bridge project.”
Even though the structure is not in danger of failure, it’s still a challenge for use by modern vehicles, according to Deer Isle Town Manager Jim Fisher.
“The bridge really doesn’t perform now, and I think that’s something I have to point out,” he said recently.
The bridge is narrow and challenging for the town’s snowplows, which bang against its sides if a large vehicle comes in the other lane. He’s worried about what would happen if an accident on the bridge damaged it.
Fisher and others have also raised concerns about apparent corrosion and broken cable wires. It’s also questionable where a replacement could be located, he said – a process that could take years.
If the bridge had to be closed, it would cause big problems for islanders, officials have said. They’ve run emergency simulations in recent years trying to prepare.
“The project has at least formally started now, so we’re glad to see that,” Fisher said.
Meanwhile, the bridge is subject to regular inspections. A report from last spring’s inspection found three issues on the bridge needing immediate repair and one missing sign on the road approaching it. But no “critical” problems were found.
Drainage troughs and downspouts below the finger joints on two piers were “fully clogged” with asphalt debris, leading to water spilling onto tower struts below them, the report said. Finger joints are interlocking plates on a road that allows it to expand and contract due to weather conditions.
Cable ties also appeared loose at several points and allowed up to five eighths of an inch of movement between the cable and its tie, according to the report. During the inspection, cable tie bolts were tightened but the cables continued to move. Bolts connecting two of the cable ties to the bands were also loose.
Third, an encasement at one of the bridge’s piers was displaced from its stem with missing or dislodged bolts.
Finally, a weight posting sign on the Sedgwick side was missing.
These items are “being addressed,” a spokesperson said last week.
Some new broken wires were recorded in the bridge’s cables, but not listed as a critical finding.
The bridge remains a “major focus and priority” for the state, the department wrote in bid documents for the feasibility study. It’s starting to look at options now in order to speed up funding, permitting and replacement when necessary, it wrote.