Old Town Bridge To Close Temporarily In The Evenings Next Week As Crews Prep It For Winter

The Maine DOT is telling folks in Old Town who travel the bridge along Stillwater Ave. to prepare for a detour next week.

In August, as crews were working on the Llewellyn Estes Bridge, a bridge that's been under construction for several years now and will serve as a major motorist artery carrying cars and trucks over the Penobscot River, the bridge partially collapsed.

The incident remains under investigation, as members of the Maine DOT continue to look at what led to a newly replaced girder giving way.

Read More: Maine DOT Investigates Composite Girder Failure At Old Town Bridge Site

Thankfully, there were no vehicles on the bridge at the time it gave way, because a temporary bridge had been constructed to transport them over the water.

That temporary bridge, however, will be closing for several nights next week, so that it can be buttoned up and weatherized for winter.

According to the Maine DOT, the nighttime closures of the Old Town Llewellyn Estes Temporary Detour will be well-marked with signs and message boards so that drivers are aware as they approach.

"The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be conducting nighttime closures of the temporary Llewellyn Estes Bridge over Stillwater River in Old Town from September 27 to October 2 from 8 PM to 5 AM each night in order to perform winter preparations of the temporary detour. The project work includes realignment of the pedestrian curb, insulating the deck panels to the girders, tightening deck anchors, and addressing water and sewer hold-downs."'

Read More: Maine DOT Investigating Llewellyn Estes Bridge Failure

Drivers will be detoured around the area, brining the up Bennoch Road to North Main Street and to College Avenue and back to where that connects back up with Stillwater Avenue.