FARMINGTON — Voters at the May 11 town meeting will decide whether Farmington should help close the remaining funding gap on a proposed $4.2 million bridge intended to connect downtown with the Whistle Stop Trail and regional recreation network.

The warrant article asks residents to authorize borrowing up to $500,000 for the project, though town officials say the final amount borrowed would depend on construction bids.

The bridge would span the Sandy River between downtown Farmington and West Farmington, creating a direct connection to the 14-mile Whistle Stop Trail, which runs south into Wilton and Jay. Snowmobiles cannot legally cross the river using Center Bridge, limiting trail connectivity into downtown.

Town Manager Erica LaCroix said the town has already committed $200,000 in Downtown Tax Increment financing toward the project.

“Combined with the $200,000 the Town provided out of TIF funds in 2024 our contribution would be $700,000, or 17% of the total project,” LaCroix said in an email response.

She said the High Peaks Alliance estimates the funding gap at $561,915, though the figure is based on engineering estimates rather than finalized construction bids.

The borrowed funds would be used as local match money tied to grant applications already submitted, according to LaCroix.

High Peaks Alliance Executive Director Brent West said about $3 million in federal and local funding has already been committed, while an additional $1 million Northern Border Regional Commission grant is pending.

“This vote is needed to show local support, close the gap and keep this project moving forward towards completion,” West said.

West said the project has roughly 75% of its funding secured through 2031.

“You never know what exactly the bids will come out at until you actually ask for bids,” he said. “The engineer is using real-time estimates of costs based on current prices. They also budget a 10% contingency.”

He said construction inflation over the past several years has significantly increased costs, though additional hydrology, geology and ecology studies have improved confidence in the project’s engineering estimates.

“This project has had many hurdles and although some have seemed insurmountable I keep seeing this community stepping up,” West said. “This is a great collaboration and I believe we will get it done if we stick to it.”

Current estimates place construction bidding and the contract award in summer or fall 2027, with construction taking place in 2028 and 2029.

Environmental regulations protecting endangered Atlantic salmon habitat only allow in-water work between July and September, effectively requiring at least two construction seasons.

“Things like state contracting, getting qualified bids, or permitting timelines could take longer,” West said.

Once completed, the bridge would be owned and maintained by the state, according to LaCroix.

Supporters say the bridge could strengthen Farmington’s role as a recreation destination by linking downtown businesses to biking, snowmobiling and outdoor recreation traffic.

“This project has had broad support from the public since the idea was first proposed in 2007,” LaCroix said. “It would connect the Whistle Stop Trail to downtown Farmington, completing a loop that goes all the way up to Rangeley.”

West said the bridge would remain open year-round and serve as a snowmobile crossing during winter.

“Snowmobiling is still a tremendous economic driver bringing in close to $700 million a year to Maine’s economy,” he said. “This project will give the opportunity to create regional loops to center Farmington as a destination.”

During the April 28 Select Board meeting, some board members questioned whether projections of roughly $900,000 in annual economic activity and about 8,000 outside visitors were overly optimistic as project costs continue to rise.

West said the estimates were developed by economist Ryan Wallace of Wallace Economics using Bureau of Economic Analysis data, Maine Office of Tourism spending data and recreation use figures from the Bureau of Parks and Lands.

According to West, the projection includes an estimated $589,000 in visitor spending, $289,000 in wages tied to long-term jobs and about $23,000 in taxes.

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