Androscoggin Brunswick-Topsham Riverwalk

The Androscoggin Brunswick-Topsham Riverwalk is a 1.25-mile in-town loop that links Brunswick and Topsham along both sides of the Androscoggin River. The Riverwalk abuts Brunswick’s Maine Street business district, Topsham’s Lower Village and the densely populated historic neighborhoods of Topsham Heights and North West Brunswick. It also incorporates two important bridges: the Frank J. Wood or “Green” Bridge that joins Maine Street, Brunswick with Main Street, Topsham, and the historic Androscoggin Swinging Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge built by John A. Roebling’s Sons Company shortly after they constructed the more famous Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

A project is underway to make the Riverwalk accessible to all, while retaining the Riverwalk’s natural beauty. It will be paved to welcome bicyclists, wheelchair users and families with strollers. A small park will be created at the Topsham end of the Frank G. Wood Bridge, joining Anniversary Park in Brunswick and the two small parks at either end of the Swinging Bridge as lovely in-town sites to enjoy the river. Along busy Mill Street in Brunswick, the Riverwalk will move closer to the river and be separated from traffic by planted areas. At Fort Andross in Brunswick, the sidewalk along Cabot and Bow Streets will be improved and clearly identified as a section of the Riverwalk. Throughout the Riverwalk, benches will provide spots for rest and contemplation and interpretive signage will identify spots of historic and environmental interest.

An advisory committee comprised of Topsham and Brunswick citizens, working with officials from both municipalities and landscape architect Anthony Muench, developed the concept plan for the improved Riverwalk with support from the Alfred E. Senter Fund. In June 2011, the first phase of construction will begin in Topsham between the Swinging Bridge and Summer Street, funded by a Maine Department of Transportation Quality Community Program Grant, matched in part by a grant from the Fore River Foundation. Engineering documents have been prepared by Wright-Pierce for the second phase along Mill Street in Brunswick and fundraising is underway to execute that phase and subsequent phases. The Rotary Club of Brunswick is serving as the project’s fiscal agent and all contributions are tax-deductible.

For more information about the Androscoggin Brunswick-Topsham Riverwalk, go to www.AndroscogginRiverwalk.org or leave a message at 207-837-6187.

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