Inspection Leads to New Restrictions for Maine Bridge

Oct. 22, 2021

New weight restrictions for the Frank J. Wood bridge between Topsham and Brunswick, Maine, will be put into place next week following a safety inspection that took place in September, according to a release from The Maine Department of Transportation reported on by the Lewiston Sun Journal.

Effective Monday, Oct. 25, the maximum weight permitted on the bridge that carries traffic on Route 201 between the two towns will be 10 tons, or 20,000 pounds. That's down from the current maximum of 25 tons, or 50,000 pounds.

“This new posting is the result of the inspection that happened in mid-September,” the release stated. “That inspection found severe section loss on the 90-year-old bridge. Maine DOT bridge engineers met last week to discuss the findings of this latest inspection. These engineers determined that, in the interest of preserving public safety, the weight limit needs to be lowered.”

The new restrictions apply to all vehicles, including trucks and emergency vehicles.

The bridge was constructed in 1932.

Source: The Lewiston Sun Journal