Mathew J. Lanigan Bridge over Kennebunk River

Among the challenges of what was originally programmed as a bridge replacement project were the businesses on both approaches—which draw vast amounts of tourists in the summer and fall—and the bridge’s location in the middle of a historic stretch of road.

While it seemed that the effort would be a three-season construction project with a full detour bridge, early communication with the community through a bridge advisory committee (BAC) showed us how little they wanted a long construction duration. As a highly sensitive economic area for the community, the bridge had to be completed as quickly as possible.

We listened to the community and brought together our project sensitivity and bridge expertise. This combination allowed us and MaineDOT to reduce the scope of work to a superstructure replacement and substructure rehabilitation rather than a full bridge replacement. We were able to show that the existing abutments were suitable for re-use and that the existing two-span superstructure could be replaced with a single span, using accelerated bridge construction techniques.

This resulted in a one-season superstructure replacement with only a 30-day road closure—a clear win for the Kennebunk community.