Staff Writer

Transportation officials are confident a new bridge carrying Route 1 traffic through downtown Kennebunk will be built, but are less sure when and how construction will unfold.

While safety of the 89-year-old Cat Mousam River Bridge is not in question, the average life span of most bridges the same size is about 75 years, according to Mark Latti, spokesman for the Maine Department of Transportation.

The new bridge will include sidewalks and a turning lane and be 60 feet wide – six feet wider than the current bridge.

Before a construction schedule can be set, the town must weigh in on three options with varying costs and time frames for the work, Latti said.  The DOT is paying for the bridge but has presented plans to the town at every step.

The first option would close the bridge and detour traffic. Latti said construction would take 14 months for this option, which is the least expensive.

Construction would be completed in stages with the second option. One side of the bridge would be shut down as construction crews work on the other. Latti said work could take 26 months to complete, would be more expensive than the first option and would be less safe for construction crews. The DOT has not decided whether the bridge would be open to traffic only one way or alternate by using flaggers to allow two-way traffic.

Tibbetts and Latti agree a third option to install a temporary bridge is the best option. That bridge would divert traffic slightly to the south, behind Cumberland Farms gas station on Brown Street over the river to Water Street for 14 months while the permanent bridge is constructed.

A temporary bridge would be built in sections of 20 to 40 feet, prefabricated at another site and moved into place by large cranes. Construction for the temporary bridge would start in the fall and work on the permanent bridge would begin in early winter.

“It also keeps the downtown area open and accessible from both sides,” Latti said of the temporary bridge.

DOT has a budget of $3.5 million for the project.

Located on Route 1 between Cumberland Farms gas station and Duffy’s Tavern, the Cat Mousam Bridge, or Kennebunk Bridge, divides downtown Kennebunk.

“We’re leaning toward the temporary bridge because of the economic impact to the downtown area,” Latti said.

Latti said repairs to the bridge’s road surface are no longer feasible because the  support structure is in need of repair.

“We do work with communities when replacing a bridge,” Latti said.

On Thursday, May 6, DOT employees will attend a public hearing at Kennebunk Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. to answer questions about the bridge and present current designs, including maintenance of traffic plans and a construction schedule.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.