Work starts on Babson Bridge connecting East and West on MDI
MOUNT DESERT, March 29, 2025 - Ever notice that MDI’s geographic contours resemble the human heart?
And like the human heart, MDI needs to flush its arteries now and then to allow the free flow of oxygen to ensure its continued viability.
The only problem is that it requires open heart surgery.
In November 2022, I wrote about the project to fortify the Babson Bridge in Somesville and DOT’s decision to build a temporary bridge to handle the two-way traffic instead of routing the traffic to Crooked Road and other alternatives connecting the Quietside and Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor.
Having survived the Main Street project in Southwest Harbor, I am bracing for this next traffic chokehold on MDI.
Babson Bridge is the major connector between the two sides of the island at the junction of Rtes. 198 and 102. It is just south of Freshie's and the Somesville Post office.
Three years ago, the state DOT released plans and schedule for the project which called for its completion by 2026. But it is now forecasting 2027 as the completion date https://my.mainedotpima.com/public/event-registration/search?project_id=15508&pe_guid=895cf97f-e60f-43a9-91e3-7b6ab172ee8b
The Town of Mount Desert posted the latest information on its website.
“On-site clearing operations began on Monday, March 17th for the construction of a temporary, two-lane detour bridge which will carry traffic throughout the duration of the project.
“While the contractor is on-site conducting clearing operations and construction of the temporary detour bridge, traffic on Route 3/198 may be reduced to a single lane of alternating, one-way traffic maintained by flaggers between the hours of 6:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.
“Lane closures will be discontinued on May 1 and two-way traffic will be restored.
“On-site construction of the new bridge will begin again on Tuesday, August 5th. The temporary bridge will be finished at that time and open for use by Thanksgiving.
“Construction will take place Monday through Friday between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 6 P.M. No weekend work is planned.
“Throughout construction there will be a lane width restriction of 11 feet. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2027.”
I’m grateful the DOT decided on a temporary two-lane alternative. I’m eager to test how well it works in actuality. Stay tuned.
What does this mean?
On-site construction of the new bridge will begin again on Tuesday, August 5th. The temporary bridge will be finished at that time and open for use by Thanksgiving.
This sounds like the temporary bridge will be completed by the time the construction on old bridge starts (August 5th) but not actually open to use until Thanksgiving?
To be fair I have not seen the design specs for the Babson Creek bridge rebuild. But during the 10 years I worked as a construction lay out engineer I never saw a tiny bridge like that take anywhere near 2 years to build. If anyone had even suggested that it would take that amount of time they would have been laughed at if not committed to an asylum! If, in fact, it does take that amount of time I can almost certainly assure you that it would be due to either ineptitude, poor design, or corruption. Or else someone high up in state government has a relative who owns a bridge building company 😤