DURHAM – The state will replace an aging bridge that spans the Androscoggin River between Durham and Lisbon Falls in the spring of 2014, according to Leanne Timberlake of the Maine Department of Transportation, who will serve as manager for the $6.8 million construction project.

A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, at the Durham Fire Station on Hallowell Road. Representatives from the transportation department will be present to listen to concerns, receive comments, and answer questions from anyone with an interest in the project.

“Typically, we do presentations to get support from the public,” said Timberlake. “It’s a chance to answer questions and concerns.”

According to Timberlake, the bridge, built in 1936 and connecting routes 9 and 125 in Durham and Lisbon Falls, is nearing the end its useful life and needs to be replaced.

“It’s still safe to drive on. It’s just time to start the process of replacing it,” said Timberlake. “The bridge right now is a truss, we’ll be replacing it with a typical steel girder bridge with two spans. It’s very narrow now.”

At a Durham public meeting in July 2012 with project manager Ben Condon, a number of residents expressed a desire to see the new bridge connect with Route 196 on the Lisbon side of the river, which would necessitate putting in a new intersection and building a longer bridge than is now in place.

“We did take the idea into consideration, but wanted focus on the real need to replace the bridge,” said Timberlake. “We’ll be angling the bridge at a skew and will not be going all the way up to Route 196.”

Durham Town Administrator Janet Smith said the Board of Selectman were eager to hear the state’s plans and would have more to comment on after the hearing.

The Maine Department of Transportation will replace the bridge connecting Durham and Lisbon Falls in the spring of 2014. The $6.8 million project is expected to take two years, according to the project manager, Leanne Timberlake. The bridge was built in 1936.
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