News Release for Wednesday - February 20, 2008

For More Information:
John Buxton, Bridge Maintenance, at 624-3580 or
Herb Thomson, Office of Communications, at 624-3030                                

 PRITHAM’S BRIDGE IN FREEPORT CLOSED TODAY

MaineDOT today closed Pritham’s Bridge in Freeport to all traffic. Department traffic engineers erected signage to close the bridge and inform motorists about the detour. Crews then placed concrete barriers to close the narrow, aging bridge, which is located near Wolfe Neck Woods State Park, and which carries Burnett Road over the Little River, to connect with Lower Flying Point Road.  Burnett Road is a town way, while Pritham’s Bridge is owned and maintained by the state.

MaineDOT’s bridge posting committee recommended the closure of Pritham’s Bridge to assure the safety of the traveling public. Acting on the recommendation of that committee, MaineDOT deputy chief engineer Ken Sweeney ordered the bridge to be closed. “Pritham’s Bridge serves a low volume of traffic, but we understand that closing it will create an inconvenience for the local residents who use it,” says Sweeney. “The substructure and superstructure of the bridge have deteriorated to a point where we no longer believe it can safely carry traffic, and unfortunately, we feel it’s time to close it.”

Pritham’s Bridge, which had most recently been posted to a weight limit of three tons, crosses the Little River. The approximately 50-foot, single-span structure is constructed with a wood deck laid across steel I-beams, which are resting on stone abutments. The abutments have some dislocated stones and are crumbling in some places, and do not provide reliable support for the superstructure and live loads. MaineDOT engineers have been closely monitoring the condition of the bridge for several years.

Freeport town officials have been notified of the closure. For more information, editors may contact John Buxton, state bridge maintenance engineer, by phone, at 624-3580.

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