MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation is conducting its annual safety inspection of the International Bridge between Madawaska and Edmundston, New Brunswick next week. The bridge will be closed to traffic between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST from Monday, June 14th through Saturday, June 19th. Detour routes will be posted. This inspection may also require an additional day of work and traffic closures the following week. This inspection had originally been scheduled for July. MaineDOT accelerated the timeline in anticipation of pandemic-related border restrictions easing in July.
The International Bridge has known deficiencies, structural concerns, and a rapid rate of deterioration that need to be properly evaluated annually to allow for continued safe use. Bridge inspections are performed during daylight hours to ensure safety, thoroughness, and the quality of the inspection.
MaineDOT and the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure are currently working on a project to replace this critical bridge. The $86.5-million construction contract was awarded to Reed & Reed, Inc. of Woolwich earlier this year. Construction has been underway for several weeks ago. We anticipate opening the new bridge to traffic by the end of 2023. Demolition of the old bridge is scheduled to begin once traffic is moved onto the new bridge. The estimated final completion date for the bridge replacement project is June 30th, 2025.