WESTBROOK – Westbrook residents will have the chance to shape a new section of the downtown by helping city officials come up with the best amenities for the area around a proposed pedestrian bridge.
A public meeting is being held on Wednesday, Jan. 30, for residents to give their ideas on ways to beautify the span on Bridge Street that could be turned into the new pedestrian bridge in the next year or two.
The bridge was built in 1956 and needs an update. The Maine Department of Transportation plans on building a new bridge upstream from the existing bridge, and plans to reuse the base for a pedestrian walkway across the Presumpscot River.
City Planner Molly Just said the new corridor could enhance the area by allowing for additional parking, outdoor seating and expanded sidewalks.
“We’re talking about a lot of things, but we can’t move forward with the residents behind it,” Just said.
The state held its first meeting about the new bridge in August and had another public meeting in December, but this will be the first meeting that deals specifically with the pedestrian aspect.
Just said the state’s bridge plans do not have any bells or whistles, just the standard silver metal guardrails. Any aesthetic changes, like green ornamental railings or streetlights, would be an additional cost to the city. Just said the additional visual fixtures could be covered under grants and other funding sources that the city is already requesting.
Just said it is cheaper for the state to keep the supports of the Bridge Street bridge and turn it into a pedestrian bridge than it is to add sidewalks to a new crossing.
“We want the top quality in the aesthetics of the bridge construction. We would like to see the green ornamental rails and green ornamental lights,” Just said.
Having construction on both the vehicular and pedestrian bridge taking place at the same time would cut down on the cost.
“We want to take advantage of the project and save us money in the meantime,” Just said.
While the new vehicular bridge is being constructed, traffic would be rerouted onto the newly finished Cumberland Mills Bridge, so access to Bridge Street would not be cut off. Just said the new traffic pattern would cause minor inconveniences for approximately 18 months at the most.
James Tranchemontagne, owner of the Frog and Turtle restaurant, located at the foot of the bridge, said while he initially thought the project was a good idea, he still has some reservations on how the bridge would benefit the business community.
“The plans don’t necessarily address the most positive steps to help the downtown, but it’s still very early on in the process and we’ll know more after Wednesday. I have concerns if they are closing off the Portland Pie parking lot. That would mean a lot more traffic right on our road.
“One other thing they have said is the elimination of the crosswalk, which seems like a red flag. Originally I thought moving the bridge to the location where they are going to put it seems to be the right idea. Turning that open area into an area for art shows and space that the restaurants could get outside seating could be a huge benefit to Westbrook,” Tranchemontagne said. “I don’t feel like this project is just getting pushed through.”
Construction on the new bridge is not expected to start until the end of 2013 or beginning of 2014.
Tranchemontagne said his 10-year lease is up around the same time the new bridge would be built, and while the restaurant has no plans to move, the outcome of these meetings could change that if the new traffic patterns cause more problems than they’re fixing.
In August, state officials said bridges built today are expected to last approximately 75 years. The Cumberland Mills Bridge, now being replaced, is about the same age as the Bridge Street span.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
