A project, at least four years in the making, came to a grinding halt Thursday afternoon as portions of the Llewellyn Estes Bridge in Old Town collapsed while workers were on-site.

The Backstory:

According to the Maine DOT website, this bridge replacement work has been underway for several years and is part of a multi-tiered construction project aimed at improving several roads in that area of town.

Planned in 2022, construction of a temporary bridge began in 2024 as crews from the contracting company Contractors Reed & Reed, Inc., out of Woolwich, started to repair the original bridge. The bridge work project was bundled with plans to improve the Bennoch Road (Route 16) and College Avenue (Route 2A) intersections.

The Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center at the University of Maine also helped to develop special "girder" technology that was used in the project, with special composites installed this spring, according to University of Maine officials.

"In March of 2026, Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Tub Girders were installed in the Stillwater Bridge Replacement Project (Old Town, ME) in March of 2026. These girders, manufactured by Basalt International, are the longest span used in any composite bridge to date and feature a first-of-their-kind continuity joint for live load, allowing for longer spans than ever before. Organizations working on the planning and construction of the bridge are the MaineDOT and Reed&Reed Contractors. The technology was developed at the University of Maine Advanced Structures & Composites Center."

Unfortunately, that work had to stop Thursday afternoon after parts of the original bridge collapsed and people were injured.

What Happened?

According to Milford Fire/Rescue, reports of an MCI (mass casualty incident) came into the station just before 2 PM, with responders saying parts of the bridge had come down.

"Dispatch reported a bridge collapse on Stillwater Ave. Multiple injuries were reported and as such OTFR command requested assets from multiple agencies initially. Fortunately, it was quickly confirmed to be only 1 pt [patient]."

"All departments on scene worked together to remove the injured person and transport them to the ER...Great work to all that responded!!"

Old Town Bridge Collapse, Milford Fire/Rescue via Facebook

The Maine DOT says the incident happened while workers were attempting to solidify the structure.

"...portions of the Llewellyn Estes Bridge in Old Town collapsed while a construction crew was pouring concrete for the bridge deck. The bridge was closed to traffic as part of the ongoing construction work, and motorists were not impacted. MaineDOT is assessing the situation."

What's next?

Folks from the local police departments, public works, the Maine DOT, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection were on hand, working alongside contractors from Reed & Reed Inc and N.S. Giles to review the situation and gameplan what to do next.

Get our free mobile app

Traffic, which had been detoured around the area for a short while right after the collapse, was back up and running over the temporary bridge an hour later.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Beware of The Most Dangerous Roads in Maine

Here are 4 Maine roads that have a high risk of potential accidents.

Gallery Credit: Lizzy Snyder

Maine’s 10 Most Beautiful, Walkable Downtowns

Step into charm: 10 Maine downtowns perfect for a leisurely wander

Gallery Credit: Arlen Jameson

Maine Roads & Streets To Avoid In A Snowstorm

Recently, we asked our co-workers, families, and listeners what roads you should try to avoid when we're getting a storm. Take a look at our list and let us know if you agree.