DOT plans overhaul for historic suspension bridge
NEW PORTLAND – One of Maine’s most precious, historical structures is tucked away in this small town off Route 27. The Wire Bridge that extends over Carrabassett River suspended by cables and wire rope hangers was built between 1864 and 1866.
The state Department of Transportation has completed preliminary engineering and has tentative plans to restore the bridge during the summer of 2004.
The 193-foot single span suspension bridge is located nearly 15 miles from the intersection of routes 4 and 27 in Farmington. It is about 1 mile from Route 27 in New Portland. Take a right after Denny’s Taxidermy and West Construction and then a left onto Old Kingfield Road and then another right onto Wire Bridge Road.
The deck of the bridge is wood planked and is supported by wire rope hangers and two main suspension cables. The latter cables pass over cast iron saddles on top of timber frame towers and end at iron eye bars anchored in stone and concrete.
The bridge, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was renovated in 1961, when the substructure and towers were repaired, wire rope hangers were replaced, and a new timber floor system was installed, said DOT Project Manager Wayne Frankhauser.
Last September, a comprehensive inspection and testing was performed to determine the condition of the bridge and recommend repairs, he said.
Those repairs include cleaning, repairing, rewrapping and painting the main suspension cables. It also includes resetting the saddles on top of the towers, repairing and re-tension of the wire rope hangers, cleaning and painting the main cable anchorages, minor repairs to the towers and the addition of new timber approach and bridge rail.
Cars traveled across the bridge posted for 3 tons Tuesday, in single file.
The rehabilitation project is estimated to cost a little more than $900,000.
The bridge is one of the biggest historical values in the state, Frankhauser said.
“It’s been determined to be a historical structure,” he said.
Once the renovation work begins, Frankhauser said, the bridge will be closed to traffic for a couple months with detours established.
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