BETHEL – The contract for construction of a snowmobile/pedestrian bridge across the Androscoggin River has been awarded to Reed and Reed Inc. of Woolwich at a cost of $1.4 million.

Maine Department of Transportation’s Andy MacDonald, project manager, said the Woolwich firm’s bid was the lowest of five submitted. Reed and Reed often does work for MDOT, and was the firm that built the new Gilbertville Bridge in Canton, MacDonald said.

Construction is scheduled to begin on the 400-foot bridge in early spring. It is expected to be completed by the end of September.

MacDonald said the Bethel project is the third and final bridge identified for use by snowmobiles under a Maine bond package passed in the mid-1990s. Some of the funding comes from federal enhancement funds. The other two bridges built recently to accommodate snowmobiles are across the Kennebec River in The Forks in Somerset County and across the Androscoggin River in Canton.

The bridge will also be used by hikers and bicyclists.

The new bridge in Bethel will have a 10-foot wide path, railings, steel trusses and a timber deck. Two piers will support it as it crosses the river.

MacDonald said the bridge will connect the existing trail, which will be paved. With the connection, the entire project is about 1,300 feet long.