The Maine Turnpike Authority is considering reversing last month’s decision to keep one lane of the Stroudwater Street bridge open during reconstruction.

The Authority is reconsidering its decision after Portland officials expressed concern that keeping one lane open for 18 months would cause more traffic problems than closing the bridge for a year.

Last month, in response to a letter from Mayor Bruce Chuluda, the Turnpike Authority announced it would keep one lane of the bridge open during construction, a move authority officials said would add time and money to the project.

Dan Paradee, Maine Turnpike Authority public relations manager, said shortly after the authority made the decision to keep one lane of the bridge open, it heard from Portland officials who wanted to see the bridge closed during construction. “They believed it was best to get it over with quickly,” Paradee said.

On Sept. 8, Turnpike Authority officials met with representatives from both Westbrook and Portland to discuss the project. Paradee said while the meeting was productive, both sides remain on opposite sides of the fence when it comes to the bridge project.

With two communities expressing such different opinions, Paradee said the Authority is continuing to work on finding the best solution to the problem. “We’re between a rock and a hard place,” he said. “The dynamic has changed, and we’re taking another look. Both cities have very legitimate concerns. That’s what makes it such a tough issue.”

While Paradee said the Authority is still mulling over its options for the project, some Westbrook officials feel that ultimately the bridge will be closed. City Councilor Drew Gattine attended last Thursday’s meeting, and he said he “walked away with the clear impression that the Turnpike Authority was leaning toward changing its mind.”

While it wants to keep both cities’ concerns in mind, Paradee said making sure the project goes forward is the Authority’s top priority. Paradee said the Authority would make the best decision based on the project’s effects on traffic and the overall costs. “We’re going to try and make as many people as happy as we can,” Paradee said. “But ultimately, we need to get that bridge rebuilt.”

The Authority has contended keeping one lane of the bridge open would increase the project time from the projected 12 months to 18 months, and would add about $400,000 to the initial $3 million estimate.

Chuluda said he was disappointed the Authority appeared to be going back on the commitment it made just a month ago. “They seem to be backing off that commitment due to some concerns people in Portland are raising,” he said. “I’m certainly very disturbed that they seem to be rethinking this.”

Following the meeting, City Administrator Jerre Bryant sent a letter to Turnpike Authority Executive Director Paul Violette reiterating Westbrook’s position that one lane of the bridge remain open. He said to close the bridge would cause drivers to seek alternative routes, clogging already choked roads.

“In addition to being a major residential and commercial center, Westbrook hosts thousands of commuters on a daily basis,” Bryant wrote. “Many of our streets and intersections are operating well beyond their limits. With many of these intersections at or near failure, additional volume through the diversion of traffic is simply unacceptable.”

In his letter, Bryant also asked representatives of the Authority to come to Westbrook Monday, Sept. 19, to discuss the possible bridge closing. Bryant said on Tuesday morning he hadn’t heard from the Authority regarding the request for the meeting. If the meeting were to be held, he said it would be at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School.

The Authority’s board of directors is scheduled to discuss the Stroudwater Street project at its next meeting on Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Authority’s offices at 430 Riverside St. in Portland.

Gattine urged residents to contact the Turnpike Authority and attend the board meeting in an effort to convince the board members to keep the bridge open. “Obviously, these are people that can be swayed,” he said.

For more information on the Authority’s board of directors meeting, contact the Turnpike Authority at 871-7771. For information about the potential Sept. 19 public hearing in Westbrook, consult the American Journal’s Web site at www.keepmecurrent.com.

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