A new bridge spanning the St. George River in Thomaston will be dedicated Wednesday by Maine Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt and local officials.
The Wadsworth Street Bridge – also known locally as the Cushing Road Bridge – took two years to build at a cost of $4.3 million.
The new bridge is 300 feet long and 36 feet wide, eliminating the restriction that allowed only one truck at a time to travel on the old bridge, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Transportation. The old bridge, which opened in 1928, was 20 feet wide.
During Wednesday’s ceremony, Raymond Wallace, a historic boat builder, will cut the ribbon before re-enactors in period dress from the Revolutionary War and French and Indian War fire shots across the bridge. That will be followed by a procession of historic motor cars.
The dedication ceremony will take place in the middle of the bridge beginning at 1 p.m. Municipal officials from Thomaston and Cushing will join Bernhardt.
The new bridge was constructed using fiberglass composite beams. The beams are lightweight and contain no steel.
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