FARMINGTON – Selectmen opted not to take over liability and responsibility of maintaining a proposed recreation bridge to be built over the Sandy River.
However, the board authorized Town Manager Richard Davis Tuesday to send a letter of support for a grant a rail-trail committee plans to submit for surface improvements to a 14.5-mile trail that runs from Jay to West Farmington and rebuilding the bridge, Davis said.
The estimated cost of the project is nearly $1 million with 20 percent of that to be raised by the rail-trail committee through donations and fund-raisers.
The committee proposes to improve travel on the sandy trail by adding a more secure surface without paving it. The group also wants to restore a bridge over the river to connect West Farmington and Farmington for snowmobilers, bicyclists and other recreationists to use.
Maine Department of Conservation owns the trail system and a representative, David Rodrigues, had asked that the town take over maintenance and liability of the bridge if the bridge was rebuilt, Davis said.
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