International Bridge News and Updates
  • Project Updates
  • News Releases

Project Updates

Select an update below to view details.

7/7/2021
  • Temporary work trestle and access road construction.
  • Installation of granular borrow and heavy riprap.
3/29/2021

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and in coordination with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), announced the availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) / Final Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation assessing the potential impacts of a proposed new U.S. Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Madawaska and an International Bridge project between Madawaska and Edmundston.

The FSEIS identified the GSA's Preferred Alternative for the new U.S. LPOE and the FHWA's and MaineDOT's Preferred Alternative for the International Bridge location and design and why they were identified over the other alternatives considered. It described the potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures and other commitments and addresses comments received on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Draft Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation issued on November 26, 2018.

The GSA's Preferred Alternative for the LPOE is Alternative C from the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) with inbound and outbound access to Mill Street. The FHWA's and MaineDOT's Preferred Alternative for the International Bridge is Alternative 2 from the DSEIS with a bridge anticipated to have six spans and five piers. The Preferred Alternatives for the LPOE and International Bridge will continue to evolve as the design for both progresses.

The GSA and FHWA accepted comments on the FSEIS / Final Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation until November 4, 2019.

On February 13, 2020, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and in coordination with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), published a Record of Decision (ROD) completing the National Environmental Policy Act process. The ROD summarizes NEPA findings and documents the decision made.

For further information on the Environmental Evaluation , please contact:

Eva Birk, Environmental Specialist U.S. Department of Transportation , FHWA
Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building,
40 Western Avenue
Room 614
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: 207-512-4921
Fax: 207-626-9133
E-mail:eva.birk@dot.gov

For further information regarding GSA's new Land Port of Entry, please contact:

Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, New England Region
10 Causeway Street, 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02222
Phone: 617-549-8190
E-mail: alexandria.kelly@gsa.gov

1/7/2021

This project was advertising for bids on December 23rd, 2020. MaineDOT is scheduled to open bids in early February.

5/17/2019

During the Public Hearing held on December 12, 2018, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Federal Highway Administration, and MaineDOT provided a timeline for the availability of the FSEIS / Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation. At the time, it was anticipated that this would be available in the April timeframe.

Due to the complexity of the overall project, it was not possible to complete this portion of the process as initially projected. In order to ensure a thorough and complete evaluation of all aspects of the project are taken into account, the new estimated availability of the FSEIS / Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation, which will identify the preferred alternative for the Land Port of Entry (LPOE) and the new International Bridge, is targeted for late summer 2019.

News Releases

11/6/2023: Madawaska Bridge Closures This Week

MaineDOT

News Release for November 6, 2023

For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297


MADAWASKA - The International Bridge that connects Madawaska, Maine to Edmundston, New Brunswick will be closed to daytime vehicle traffic for three days this week to accommodate paving work on the Canadian side. The land port of entry in Edmundston will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. AST (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST) on Tuesday, November 7th; Wednesday, November 8th; and Thursday, November 9th. Pedestrian traffic will still have access to the bridge and the port of entry.

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9/25/2023: UPDATE: Bridge Closure in Madawaska

MaineDOT

News Release for September 25, 2023

For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297


UPDATE:

These daily closures will be extended through Wednesday, September 27th.

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 9/18/23:

MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the International Bridge in Madawaska to all traffic during daytime hours for several days to accommodate construction work associated with the new bridge. The closures are scheduled for September 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 25th. The closure times will be between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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6/2/2023: International Bridge Inspection in Madawaska

MaineDOT

News Release for June 2, 2023

For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297


MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting its annual inspection of the International Bridge between Madawaska, Maine and Edmundston, New Brunswick next week. This work will require the full closure of the bridge to vehicle traffic between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday, June 5th through Saturday, June 10th. The sidewalk will remain open. Any additional inspection work after these dates is not expected to impact vehicle traffic.

The current International Bridge is 102 years old and rapidly deteriorating. A five-ton weight limit has been in place since 2017. A new bridge is currently under construction upstream from the existing structure. The new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of this year.

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