The revelation this week that Maine’s Department of Transportation is seeking bids to privatize operations of the Casco Bay Bridge follows precedents set elsewhere and reflects a broader goal of Gov. Paul LePage to privatize government services.

For years, governors across the country – mostly Republican – have explored, and in some case implemented, ways to shift services that historically have been handled by government to the private sector to save money.

But while engaging the private sector is increasingly common for state governments operating in an era of austerity, privatizing bridge operations is still rare.

A county in New Jersey turned over operations to a private company four years ago, and states such as Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida have privatized bridge operations on a case-by-case basis. But the practice hasn’t become widespread.

Maine DOT officials said this is the first time it has explored turning over operations and maintenance of a bridge to a private company, but department spokesman Ted Talbot said the potential for cost-savings is something that fits DOT’s mission.

“This is just an extension of what we’ve been doing under the governor and under this commissioner,” he said.

The Casco Bay Bridge, which connects Portland and South Portland across the Fore River, carries 32,000 vehicles daily. It also serves as a drawbridge to allow watercraft to pass beneath it.

The union that represents the dozen or so state employees responsible for operating and maintaining the Casco Bay Bridge is concerned that contracting out the work will bring in less-qualified employees.

That, they fear, could lead to safety issues.

“Our employees have a great safety record there at the bridge and there are genuine concerns that could change,” said Tom Feeley, general counsel for the Maine State Employees Association.

Feeley also criticized the DOT for not informing employees that it was considering a change.

South Portland City Manager Jim Gailey said he couldn’t really comment on the proposal to privatize the bridge operations because he hasn’t talked to anyone at DOT.

“I think, as a city, we would want assurances that operation and maintenance of the bridge would remain at the level we’ve seen since it was built in 1997,” he said.

Portland City Manager Jon Jennings said he had no immediate concerns about the plan, adding he expected DOT “will keep the city’s interests in mind.”

Talbot said although DOT has gone out to bid, that doesn’t mean things will necessarily change. If bids come back higher than what the state currently pays to maintain operations, they won’t make a change. Talbot could not provide an operational budget for the bridge.

At least in one case, savings were significant from privatizing bridge operations.

Monmouth County in New Jersey turned over operation of four drawbridges to a private company in 2012. The county had been spending just over $2 million to maintain those bridges but found a company willing to do it for a bid of $1.49 million – primarily by trimming employee benefits and reducing overtime expenses.

That transition was meant to be a sort of test case for the rest of the state, but so far no other counties have followed.

Other states, including Florida, Massachusetts and Maryland have contracted out private bridge-tending services, but not on a wide scale.

The National Transportation Safety Board has investigated three bridge/boat accidents since 2013. Two were attributed to pilot error, while one was due to the bridge operator.

Usually, privatizing transportation means allowing private companies to build toll roads. The benefit to a state is a new road at little cost. The benefit to the company is years and years of toll revenue.

But in the case of the Casco Bay Bridge, there are no revenues at stake; the state is only looking at cutting costs.

LePage has said he is open to privatizing services. He has explored building private jails and, more recently, building a privately run health facility for forensic patients – people accused of crimes who have profound mental illness.

The DOT already has privatized some services. In 2012, the department turned over operation of its commuter van program to a private company, despite objections.

The LePage administration also has touted significant savings on parts and supplies for the department through privatization.

The deadline for companies to bid on the Casco Bay Bridge contract is Nov. 18.

Feeley, the union counsel, said he fully expects a company to come in with a low bid to operate the Casco Bay Bridge.

“They can cut corners and underpay employees, but I think there would be legitimate safety concerns,” he said.