FARMINGTON — High Peaks Alliance is pleased to announce that the Sandy River Bridge project has received a $1 million grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission. The funding will help the project move forward toward construction bidding next spring, despite cost increases tied to survey discrepancies, inflation and required consultations related to Atlantic salmon.
The Sandy River Bridge will provide a critical connection for the Whistle Stop Trail, extending safe pedestrian and snowmobile access into downtown Farmington. The project is designed to improve connectivity to jobs, health care, education, and tourism destinations while strengthening regional recreation and economic activity.
Wallace Economic Advisers’ 2026 analysis shows that once open, the bridge could draw 24,000 trail users annually, bringing an estimated $766,000 in yearly local spending and supporting 11 jobs in the regional economy.
“We are grateful to NBRC for believing in this project and helping us keep it moving forward,” Brent West said. “This funding gives us the momentum we need to get the project to bid and lock in a final price.”
The project team is now working through the remaining permitting and consultation steps so the bridge can be ready for construction bidding by spring 2027. Once a bid is secured, the project price will be locked in, and the team will be able to move into the next phase of delivery.
The High Peaks Alliance is a volunteer-driven nonprofit working since 2007 to ensure and enhance public access and recreational opportunities in Maine’s High Peaks region. The Alliance unites local hunters, hikers, anglers, snowmobilers, ATVers, mountain bikers and community stewards to conserve land, maintain trails, and build connections between people and the landscape.