CARRABASSETT VALLEY — The town’s application for a $100,000 grant for a multipurpose recreational bridge project has been approved.

The town received verbal confirmation from officials at the state Department of Conservation, Town Manager Dave Cota said Friday.

The 110-foot bridge will be constructed over the Carrabassett River on land next  to the Carrabassett Valley Airport.

It will allow snowmobiles, ATVs, bicycles, hikers and cross-country skiers access from the so-called “Black Fly Parking Lot” in back of the Carrabassett Inn and trails on the west side of Route 27 to trails and huts on the east side of the Carrabassett River.

Currently, snowmobilers cross the river over an annual makeshift ice or wooden “surface bridge.” ATVs and snowmobiles must also pass over the Carriage Road in the Valley Crossing area and access to the Narrow Gauge Pathway for cross-country skiing involves a one mile walk.

Carrabassett Valley voters approved the use of $19,000 from the Recreational Endowment Funding for the project, and the J.V. Wing Snowmobile Club has agreed to commit $6,000, bringing total funding to $125,000.

All survey, civil engineering and permitting work is complete. In addition, the Penobscot Indian Nation has provided the town with a long-term easement for placing the bridge on the east side of the river.

In February 2010, a Recreational Bridge Committee was formed to explore options and potential funding for the project. The committee held several meetings and solicited public comments. Collaboration between the town and the various organizations in the community contributed to the success of the application.

Recreation and Anti-Gravity Center Director Deb Bowker wrote the grant but there was a collaborative effort, including work by Bill Munzer from the snowmobile club and Neal Trask and John McCatherin from the ATV club, Cota said.

Town officials expect to be requesting bid proposals from qualified metal fabrication companies in the near future for “design build” construction of the bridge and the project is expected to be completed this summer. For more information contact Cota at 235-2645.