Downtown Gardiner bridges project opens to traffic

The final phase of a comprehensive transportation improvement project in Gardiner’s historic downtown is nearing completion with the recent opening of the Bridge Street Bridge. Global design firm Stantec led project design and provided construction support for the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) project involving the replacement of two century-old bridges, along with the addition of a multi-use trail with bridge and updates to two signalized intersections.

The Bridge Street Bridge, which was originally built in 1917 to bring Route 201 over the Cobbosseecontee Stream, has opened to traffic after a complex lateral slide installation of a new 700-ton single span structure. Completed during a 30-day closure using Accelerated Bridge Construction methods, this was only the second such highway bridge replacement completed in the state.

The completion of the Bridge Street Bridge follows the 2019 replacement of the Maine Avenue Bridge through an accelerated 15-day bridge closure. The Maine Avenue Bridge was built in 1933 to carry Route 24 over the Cobbosseecontee Stream. These bridge updates, coupled with complementary roadway and trail improvements, bring a substantial set of multi-modal mobility improvements to this historic downtown.

As part of its project role for MaineDOT, Stantec designed the two bridge replacements as well as a recreational trail bridge that connects to the Kennebec River Rail Trail. Trail enhancements include landscaping; use of salvaged granite; ornamental lighting; interpretive panels celebrating the stream’s historic dams, fish species, and birds of prey; and safety features. Additional project considerations included utility relocations, endangered fish species protection, and remediation of contaminated soils.

Full project completion is slated for Spring 2021 once trail and intersection enhancements are complete. Reed & Reed, Inc. is serving as project general contractor with McGee Construction serving as subcontractor. Additional key design subconsultants are Haley & Aldrich for geotechnical and TMSI for signalized intersections and utility coordination.

Stantec’s Transportation practice creates the connections that get people and goods moving safely and efficiently—whether by car, bus, train, plane, or their own two feet. Ranked among the top International Design Firms in Transportation by Engineering News-Record, Stantec provides planning, engineering, and infrastructure management services that fit client needs and improve the overall transportation experience. To learn more, visit: stantec.com/transportation.

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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Media Contacts

Maggie Meluzio
Stantec Media Relations
(781) 221-1002
maggie.meluzio@stantec.com

Trevor Eckart
Stantec Media Relations
(215) 665-7187
trevor.eckart@stantec.com