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Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber RESOLUTION REGARDING THE TOPSHAM-BRUNSWICK BRIDGE Adopted: May 26, 2016

Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber 

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE TOPSHAM-BRUNSWICK BRIDGE

Adopted:  May 26, 2016

WHEREAS:  The Directors of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber of Commerce acknowledge and respect the long service of the Frank J. Wood Bridge, but also express the following very strong concerns regarding continued reliance on this 84-year-old bridge:

• Accelerating deterioration in the condition of the existing bridge
• Increasing maintenance and inspection costs associated with a rehabilitated bridge
• Very substantial adverse impacts to local businesses arising from the repeated, lengthy closures required for rehabilitation of the existing bridge
• Much lower life-cycle costs of a new bridge
• Significantly improved and safer transportation facilities provided by a new bridge for all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists
• The fact that the bridge would still need to be replaced – at even higher cost – at the end of the limited additional useful life resulting from a rehabilitation
• The recommendation of the Maine Department of Transportation that the existing bridge be replaced, based upon more than a year of careful consideration of all alternatives, including rehabilitation

BE IT RESOLVED, THEREFORE: That the Directors of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber of Commerce fully support the replacement of the Frank J. Wood Bridge with a new bridge that includes improved access and safety for all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists, and minimizes the current and future financial impacts on our communities.  Furthermore, to ensure local input on the design of the bridge, the Directors encourage the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham to establish a joint Design Advisory Committee to work with the Maine Department of Transportation to optimize the final design for the new bridge.