Ticonic Bridge Project

Overnight Bridge Closures

The project will be closing the Ticonic bridge nightly to all traffic between the hours of 7 PM and 6 AM until further notice. During this time, all vehicles will be required to follow the posted detour route. Message boards will be used to warn drivers. Pedestrians should continue to utilize the posted detour route.

Drivers are encouraged to drive cautiously, observe signage in the work zone, and obey reduced work zone speed limits.


Westbound Lane - Long Term Closure

Click the image to enlarge

The Ticonic Bridge between Waterville and Winslow will be closed to westbound traffic for approximately three years. This is being done to allow the contractor to build the upstream half of the new bridge. Westbound vehicle traffic will continue to be detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. Pedestrian traffic will continue to be detoured north to the Two Cent Bridge until the upstream half of the new bridge is complete, which is scheduled to be in April 2025. Throughout construction, downtown businesses will still remain open and accessible.

We understand that these detours are disruptive. We thank the traveling public for their patience and understanding while we work on this important project.


Traffic updates

Westbound (Winslow to Waterville) lanes are closed to all traffic and are being detoured south to Carter Memorial Bridge until August 2026

Pedestrian traffic is detoured north to Two Cent Bridge until April 2025 when the upstream half of the new Ticonic Bridge will be opened.


Updates and News

2/9/2024: Upcoming Ticonic Bridge Full Night Closures

MaineDOT

News Release for February 9, 2024

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


WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Ticonic Bridge to all traffic during nighttime hours next week to accommodate ongoing construction work that requires access to the entire bridge. The Ticonic Bridge carries Bridge Street (Routes 137 and 201) over the Kennebec River between Waterville and Winslow.

These full closures are scheduled to run from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. They will begin on the night of Sunday, February 11th and end on the morning on Friday, February 16th. Full night closures will also occur the following week, running from the night of Sunday, February 18th through the morning of Friday, February 23rd.

All vehicles should us the posted detour south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. All pedestrian traffic should continue to utilize the Two Cent Bridge detour to the north. Detour routes will be signed.

The bridge will be open to two lanes of eastbound vehicular traffic during daytime hours; pedestrian traffic will continue to use Two Cen Bridge.

On-site construction to replace the Ticonic Bridge began in April 2023 and is expected to be finished by May 2027. The contractor on this project is Cianbro of Pittsfield. The construction contract amount is $52.9 million. This project is the recipient of a 2020 Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $25 million.

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7/25/2023: Full Closure of the Ticonic Bridge Between Waterville and Winslow

MaineDOT

News Release for July 25, 2023

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


WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Ticonic Bridge to all traffic from 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6th until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 12th. This is part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge, which carries Bridge Street (Routes 137 and 201) over the Kennebec River between Waterville and Winslow. During this closure, vehicle traffic will be detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. Pedestrian traffic will be detoured north to the Two Cent Bridge.

While eastbound vehicle traffic will be allowed back on the bridge on Saturday, August 12th, westbound vehicle traffic will remain prohibited from the bridge for a period of approximately three years. This is being done to allow the contractor to build the upstream half of the new bridge. Westbound vehicle traffic will continue to be detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. Pedestrian traffic will continue to be detoured north to the Two Cent Bridge until the upstream half of the new bridge is complete, which is scheduled to be in April 2025.

We understand that these detours are disruptive. We thank the traveling public for their patience and understanding while we work on this important project.

The current Ticonic Bridge's concrete arch dates to the early 20th century, when the bridge carried a trolley line. Other sections of the bridge were replaced in 1936 after a flood washed away the original steel truss. The bridge was further widened in 1970. The current bridge is more than 100 years old and has deteriorated to the point that the end of its useful life is near. Further attempts to repair or rehabilitate it will not restore the full integrity of the bridge to meet modern safety needs.

The new bridge is being constructed on the same alignment as the current one. The new structure will be a two-span bridge with a single concrete pier in the river. The bridge will be made of steel girders with a concrete bridge deck. Like the existing bridge, the new bridge will carry five lanes of traffic. The new structure will also feature widened shoulders and include sidewalks on both sides. Replacing the Ticonic Bridge with an improved structure that will provide long-term reliability will greatly enhance other infrastructure investments being made in Waterville by the city and Colby College.

The new Ticonic Bridge is scheduled to open to both eastbound and westbound traffic along with pedestrian traffic in September 2026. All contract work is scheduled to be complete by May 2027.

The contractor on this project is Cianbro of Pittsfield. The contract amount is $52.85 million. This project is the recipient of a 2020 Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $25 million.

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The Maine Department of Transportation will be replacing the Ticonic Bridge (#2854) located on Route 201 over the Kennebec River at the Waterville-Winslow town line.

The Ticonic Bridge will be replaced on alignment, with a new two span, steel girder with concrete bridge deck structure. A single concrete pier will be built in the river to support the new bridge. This new structure will replace the aging Ticonic Bridge, portions of which are over 100 years old and at the end of their useful life. The new bridge will carry five lanes of traffic similar to the existing bridge, feature widened shoulders for bicyclists, and include sidewalks on both sides of the bridge.

The new Ticonic Bridge will be built one half at a time. During construction limiting the number of lanes on the bridge will be necessary to provide the space needed by the Contractor to demolish the existing bridge and to build the new one. While construction is underway, two lanes of eastbound traffic will be maintained across the bridge with westbound traffic detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. During the first half of construction, pedestrians will be detoured to the nearby Two Cent Bridge pedestrian crossing. The bridge will be closed to all traffic and pedestrians for up to 25 weeks during construction to support the safe and efficient completion of critical construction activities.

The contractor on this project is Cianbro. The contract amount is $52.8 million.