MEXICO – Selectmen have agreed unanimously to petition the Maine Department of Transportation to pay half the cost of replacing the Thad White Bridge.
The action Wednesday followed a similar vote by Dixfield selectmen Monday.
The bridge crosses the Webb River and is owned equally by the two towns. The river serves as the boundary between both towns.
A recent DOT inspection of the bridge showed severe damage to the deck and to some of the steel beams, according to John Madigan, presently the town manager for both communities.
The bridge is restricted to vehicles weighing no more than eight tons, which means emergency vehicles cannot cross it. Three families live on the Mexico side of the bridge.
Estimates for its replacement are around $200,000, Madigan said. If the state agreed to pay for half, then Dixfield and Mexico would each pay $50,000.
While waiting for a response from the DOT, the board also agreed to look into alternative accesses and costs for building a new road from the Mexico side to the three homes.
“We’ll look at all possibilities before going ahead with anything,” said board Chairwoman Barbara Laramee.
In other matters, the board:
• Is researching costs, potential donations and volunteers to complete the partially built gazebo at the rear of the town office building.
• Awarded the contract for maintenance of five furnaces in town buildings to Specialty Services Inc. of Greene at a cost of $2,395.
• Set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in front of the fire station to review a request to eliminate three parking spaces across from the fire station. Fire Chief Gary Wentzell said the Fire Department’s ladder truck sometimes has difficulty leaving the station when the three spaces are filled.
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