Work Involves Bridges in Yarmouth, Freeport, Falmouth

BRIDGES from page 12

Eaton. “This material has been used in locations on the projects with highly compressible soil. This material is fully encased within geotextile, and then capped with our typical roadway subbase materials, to prevent washouts of the lightweight materials.”

The clay soils are a continual challenge to builders.

“The clay can liquify and it generally gets worse the more you mess with it,” said Eaton.

The construction teams use retaining walls and temporary shoring to keep the clay in place. In many places the clays run more than 50-ft. deep. Bridge support systems (piles) were constructed to penetrate this clay layer and be driven to reach solid rock below.

Yarmouth Bridge Replacement

This project will replace two bridges that carry northbound and southbound I-295 traffic over Route 1 near exit 17 in Yarmouth. In addition to the bridge work, workers extended the Beth Condon Memorial Pathway, which runs under the bridges, along Route 1.

MaineDOT estimates that the project is approximately 40 percent complete. The project is scheduled to be finished by the end of November 2025.

The old bridge was more than 60 years old and had shown significant deterioration. The project will require 15,500 tons of asphalt for roadway work and approximately 3,400 cu. yds. of concrete. Composite bridge drains will reduce corrosion on materials used in the bridge deck.

The pedestrian and bicycle access through the area on Route 1 will be greatly improved. The wider structures on I-

295 will significantly improve vehicular safety. CPM Constructors from Freeport is the lead contractor for the work.

Freeport Bridges

The project will replace two bridges that span I-295, one at exit 20 (Merrill Rd.) and the other at exit 22 (Approach Rd.). These two bridges are more than 60 years old and do not meet the height requirement to accommodate today’s larger vehicles. Active bicycle and pedestrian traffic will have increased width for travel with the new bridges increasing safety for the users.

Each bridge will feature a 12-ft.-wide multiuse path that will tie into paths the town is planning to construct in the future. The improved capacity of the new bridges also will allow larger loads to travel through the area.

MaineDOT estimates that the bridge work is approximately 25 percent complete. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2025. McNamee Construction of Lincolndale, N.Y., is the contractor for this project.

Falmouth Bridges

The project will replace two bridges that span I-295, one at the exit 10 interchange (Bucknam Rd.), and the other just north at Johnson Road. The bridges are more than 60 years old and, although they meet legal limits, are below loading expectations for a structure over the interstate. Bucknam Road provides a route for pedestrians and cyclists through the area but is too narrow for safety in its existing condition. The design uses corrosion resistant reinforcing in the concrete and thermal spray coating on steel beams to increase structure life.

The steel from the old bridges will become the property of the contractor for recycling. The project requires approximately 4,600 tons of asphalt for the roadway work and 1,600 cu. yds. of concrete for bridge abutments, piers, bridge deck, slabs, curbs and sidewalks.

MaineDOT estimates that the bridge work is approximately 25 percent complete. The project is scheduled to be complete in December 2025. The contractor for this project is Wyman and Simpson from Richmond, Maine.  CEG (All photos courtesy of MaineDOT.)