An Order Directing MaineDOT to Review Maine's Bridge Inspection and Programming

August 2, 2007

04 FY 08/09

WHEREAS, Maine citizens join the people of Minnesota and the nation in mourning those who lost their lives on August 1, 2007, when a deck truss bridge carrying Interstate 35 over the Mississippi River collapsed; and,

WHEREAS, the cause of the bridge collapse is obviously unknown at this time; and,

WHEREAS, bridges are an integral part of providing Maine people with a safe and efficient transportation system; and,

WHEREAS, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is responsible for nearly 3,000 bridges in Maine, including six deck truss bridges; and,

WHEREAS, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) currently has a bridge inspection program that meets or exceeds federal standards, such that every public bridge is inspected at least every two years including, as needed, underwater inspection by MaineDOT's Dive Team and use of an underbridge crane to allow inspection of otherwise inaccessible parts of bridges; and,

WHEREAS, MaineDOT has an aggressive Bridge Maintenance program, and extensive bridge information systems used to develop Maine's capital and maintenance bridge investment programs; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Maine need to be assured that these programs are adequate to ensure their safety;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John E. Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, hereby direct MaineDOT to:

  1. Review Maine's bridge inspection program to assure it continues to meet or exceed all applicable federal standards;
  2. Utilize the available information on the cause of the Minneapolis bridge collapse to reassess the safety of Maine’s bridges and take appropriate action to mitigate any safety concerns;
  3. Analyze MaineDOT's capital programming processes and levels for bridges and other critical transportation infrastructure, the failure of which would likely cause loss of life or other significant public safety impacts; and
  4. Report back to the Governor on any significant findings as they become available, and within 90 days provide the Governor with a progress report on the review and analysis conducted pursuant to this Order including any findings and recommendations.

Effective Date

This Executive Order is effective August 2, 2007 upon signing.

John E. Baldacci Governor