Starting Tuesday, January 19, the Maine Department of Transportation must close the Songo Locks Drawbridge in Naples to all traffic in order to repair the bridge deck and replace deteriorating pieces of steel. The repairs are expected to be completed prior to May 1, 2010, the traditional opening date of the swing bridge to marine traffic.
The closure comes as a result of a comprehensive bridge inspection this summer which revealed that significant repairs were necessary in order to ensure continued operation of the swing bridge. A posted detour will be in place during the duration of the repairs.
Crews will first remove the bridge deck, then jack and support the bridge in place in order to remove and replace the deteriorating steel in the bridge structure. Crews will also rebuild sections of the bridges swing mechanism.
MaineDOT is conducting repairs now in order to not interfere with the replacement of the Naples Bay Bridge, which could begin as early as next fall. The Songo Locks Drawbridge repairs are also designed to allow efficient operation of the drawbridge for the next 20 years.
The Songo Locks Drawbridge was built in 1926.