Llewellyn Estes Bridge Incident — Frequently Asked Questions

On Thursday, August 13, at approximately 1:43 p.m., Span 1 of the new northerly Llewellyn Estes Bridge failed while concrete was being placed for the bridge deck. The new bridge was under construction and was not open to traffic at the time of the incident.

One worker suffered a broken ankle and two others suffered minor injuries.

Yes. The temporary bridge carrying Stillwater Avenue traffic was not impacted by the incident. MaineDOT performed a precautionary inspection following the span failure and determined that the temporary bridge is safe for traffic.

Observations to-date indicate that the failure likely involved buckling of the outermost girder on the upstream side of the bridge span, followed by an immediate cascading failure of the adjacent girders. Determining the specific failure mode of the beams is part of the investigation and will require significant engineering analysis including finite element modeling and forensic testing to determine if the failure mode can be replicated with the observed and measured field conditions. Information collected at the site post-failure and during debris removal will be important to the evaluation of the cause of the failure. 

MaineDOT and its partners have been securing and documenting the site; gathering records, data, observations and other information; preparing for forensic inspection and testing; and evaluating other elements of the new bridge. Part of that documentation includes video of the span failure. That video can be found in the 'Additional Links' section below.

MaineDOT has also engaged the Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center to provide assistance. The contractor is developing the plan and schedule for debris removal.

Several organizations have roles in the bridge project and the ongoing analysis:

• Maine Department of Transportation - Bridge owner.
• Reed & Reed, Inc. -  Prime general contractor.
• Basalt International - Fabricator and designer of the composite tub girder system used on the Llewellyn Estes Bridge. 
• University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center - Developer of the composite tub girder technology.
• Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center - Providing assistance and independent review.

Reed & Reed, Inc. has extensive experience constructing bridges in Maine and has completed numerous MaineDOT bridge projects. Recent major projects include the new international bridge connecting Madawaska, Maine, and Edmundston, New Brunswick, and the replacement of the Frank J. Wood Bridge between Brunswick and Topsham.

Corrosion is a major contributor to deterioration of conventional bridge components and can increase maintenance costs and shorten bridge service life. Maine’s bridges operate in a particularly challenging environment because of exposure to winter deicing chemicals and, in coastal areas, saltwater. MaineDOT therefore evaluates and uses a variety of corrosion-resistant materials and technologies intended to improve bridge longevity. 

Fiber-reinforced polymer (referred to as FRP) composite tub girders are designed to resist corrosion while also offering advantages including lighter weight for transportation and erection.The technology was developed by the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center and the girders were designed and manufactured by Maine-based Basalt International. 

MaineDOT has previously used this composite tub girder technology on two bridges: the Grist Mill Bridge on Route 1A in Hampden over Souadabscook Stream, completed in 2021, and the Twin Bridge on Route 69 over the West Branch of Souadabscook Stream, completed in 2022. FRP composite bridge girders have also been used in other states, including Florida and Rhode Island.

MaineDOT partnered with Basalt International and the University of Maine to incorporate FRP CT girders for the replacement of the Llewellyn Estes Bridges to further the development of the corrosion-resistant technology by incorporating the CT girders into a multi-span continuous deck configuration.   

Yes. MaineDOT’s two existing bridges constructed using composite tub girder technology are safe. Like other bridges in Maine, these bridges are inspected on a regular interval.

Girders on Span 2 tipped over during a wind event and sustained cosmetic damage prompting investigation of the of the closure plate connection. Repairs were made and accepted by the girder designer and manufacturer.

The additional cost is unknown at this time. Cost impacts will depend on the results of the ongoing analysis and the course of action ultimately selected to complete the project.

That is also not yet known. MaineDOT is committed to minimizing delays to the extent possible. A revised project schedule will be developed when sufficient information is available to determine the appropriate course of action for completing the project.

MaineDOT will provide additional information as significant findings become available.

The Llewellyn Estes Bridge consists of two bridges carrying Stillwater Avenue over two channels of the Stillwater River in Old Town. MaineDOT is replacing both bridges. Traffic is currently using a temporary two-lane bridge. The new bridges were under construction and were not open to motorists at the time of the August 13 incident.

Bridge No. 1
•    152 ft. 6 in. bridge with two 76 ft. 3 in. spans.
•    The center pier has been constructed and the abutment piles have been driven.
Bridge No. 2
•    290 ft. bridge with two 96 ft. 3 in. spans and one 97 ft. 6 in. span.
•    Abutments and piers were ready to accept beams.
•    Girders and deck reinforcing were in place.
•    Concrete for portions of the bridge deck was being placed at the time of the August 13 incident.

Both bridges are designed with an overall width of approximately 42 ft. and include two 11 ft. travel lanes, two 6 ft. shoulders and a 6 ft. 6 in. sidewalk. Both bridges were designed using FRP composite tub girders.

• Video of the incident