State eyes replacement of Route 1 bridge between Portland, Falmouth
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/pn-falmartinpointbridge-021310
State reviewing $63 million bid to replace Veterans Memorial Bridge
http://www.theportlanddailysun.com/cgi/story.pl?storyid=2010012703049...
The latter, the Veterans Bridge, is actually only a *historic* US1
bridge at this point, as US1 was moved onto I-295 back in 2007. Its
replacement has been in the works for some time now, and I thought
construction was to have started this past fall. The bridge is
structurally deficient, which doesn't jive with MDOT's "insist[ence]
the bridge remains structurally sound". (But how exactly is the term
Structurally Deficient defined?) I posted a bit on its troubles back
on 2009-02-24 including the 9'² pothole that went clear thru to the
Fore River below. (Google the MTR archives for "Wintah Mayhem".) I'm
pretty excited about the bike access, which will make a great
alternative to the white-knuckle ride along ME9/22 past Stroudwater &
the Jetport. 12' seems a good width, in contrast to the narrow,
cramped & unsafe bike/ped path alongside 295/1/26 on Tukey's Bridge.
Personally, I would like to see the US1A designation moved to the new
bridge upon its completion: the Fore River Parkway routing is
indirect, only 2 lanes (divided!), has at-grade driveways & a traffic
signal, and a completely rubbish interchange wit 295/1.
Keeping the existing bridge in operation during construction should
prove interesting as well; there's little room and tight geometry
where the bridge touches down on the Portland side.
Unanswered: whether the reconstruction will provide the missing N->S
movements at I-295 exit 4.
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I don't have nearly as many comments on the Martins Point replacement,
other than...
This bridge is also structurally deficient.
Closure would be a drag for cyclists doing shorter trips in the
corridor.
Pimping my crappy website! I have some photos of this bridge and the
older, pre-1943 alignment at http://yakra.dyn-o-saur.com/roads/gallery/port-fal/index.htm
More links on the Veterans Bridge replacement project:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=313176&ac=PHnws
http://www.state.me.us/mdot/mainedot-news-release/vmb02042010.php
http://www.maine.gov/mdot/vmb/index.htm