News and Updates
February 2025
Throughout February, crews made significant progress on the Southport Bridge project, successfully completing all fender system work, removing the old mechanical systems, and replacing all three bridge span deck sections. The project remains on schedule, with traffic expected to transition back onto the south side of the bridge by the end of the month to allow for the construction of the new sidewalk. Meanwhile, installation of the new mechanical and electrical systems is ongoing.
Recent site activities by Cianbro include drilling holes in Pier 3 for end jack bases and forming and preparing the grid deck for concrete infill placement. Maine Drilling and Blasting has begun installing micropiles for the mast arm pole foundation and the crash barrier receiver, while E.S. Boulos continues conduit installation. Work will continue in March as crews advance system installations and prepare for the next phase of construction.
January 2025
Throughout January crews have made steady progress on the Southport Bridge, completing control house removal and reconstruction, including floor installation, wall framing, sheathing, and roofing. Work on the grid deck continues, with tie-down clips installed and welding ongoing. Machinery mounting components and end seat machinery are being installed, while early warning gates and their foundations are being removed. Electrical work is progressing, with conduit runs and pull boxes being installed along the bridge.
December 2024
Throughout December, crews made steady progress on the Southport Bridge project, completing grid deck removal from the swing span and installing the access platform around Pier 2. Machinery was removed from Piers 1 and 2, and surface preparation and painting of the Boothbay half of the swing span beams were finalized. Additional work included installing the control house deck support beam, shear studs on the swing span, and building a containment tent on the Southport half of the swing span, where beam preparation for painting also began.
November 2024
Throughout November, significant progress was made on the Southport Bridge project under the direction of Cianbro. Crews advanced grid deck removal from the swing span and completed the installation of pier 1 fender timbers. The temporary structural support on the swing span was successfully installed, along with signage for the tide boards. Concrete placement was completed for transition barriers on abutments 1 and 2, and upward-facing concrete repairs on pier 2 progressed steadily.
Demolition efforts included electrical and mechanical systems, the removal of the control house, and span drive reducer gearboxes. Additionally, crews began installing handrails on access platforms at piers 1 and 2, enhancing safety for ongoing operations. These efforts reflect consistent progress toward the bridge's structural and functional upgrades.
October 2024
Throughout the month of October, crews made significant progress on the Southport Bridge project between Southport and Boothbay Harbor. Led by Cianbro, work included completing decking for span 1 and span 3, installing rebar, and placing concrete for the span 1 and span 3 decks as well as the abutment 2 backwall and transition barriers. Teams also completed the removal of the pier 1 fender system and began installing new fender timbers. Additional efforts involved installing handrail posts and completing handrail installation on the pier 3 access platforms. Decking for the pier 3 fender system and pier 2 access platform progressed, while overhead repairs on pier 1 were formed and completed. Machinery removal from pier 2 continued throughout the month.
September 2024
Cianbro is progressing well on the Southport Bridge project. Recent activities include the removal of forms from pier 2 concrete repairs and the completion of grid deck removal from the south side of span 3. The team has initiated the replacement of cross frame struts on the south side of span 3, while continuing the removal of deteriorated concrete from under pier 1. Additionally, concrete has been successfully placed at abutment 1, and the removal of the pier 3 fender system has begun.
In the following weeks, Cianbro has made notable advancements, including the installation of bunks on span 1 and the completion of concrete removal under pier 1. The pier 3 fender system has been removed and is now being replaced. Currently, the team is installing bunks on span 3 and has started decking span 1. Furthermore, rebar doweling under pier 1 has been completed, and the installation of fender timbers on the pier 3 fender system continues.
August 2024
Cianbro continues to make significant progress on the Southport Bridge project. Recently, temporary pavement and curbing were installed to facilitate the transition of traffic lanes for Stage 2 construction. In preparation for further work, balance blocks were installed to rebalance the bridge. The team also completed the installation of the catwalk decking on the pier 2 fender system, along with railing and gate installations on the south half of the pier 2 catwalk.
Concrete repairs on pier 3 have been completed, while the old swing gates from spans 1 and 3 were removed, and replacement bridge rails are being installed on both spans. Additionally, the grid deck from the south side of span 1 has been fully removed, and concrete work around pier 2 is now finished. Cianbro has also begun removing deteriorated concrete from under pier 1 and completed removal from abutment 1.
July 2024
Cianbro has been actively advancing construction on the Southport Bridge. Recent work includes the completion of drilling and doweling rebar into pier 2, as well as continuing the installation of both the staff gauge and catwalk on the pier 2 fender system. The team has also made progress on spans 1 and 3, where they installed bunks, deck forms, and rebar. Concrete has been placed for the bottom half of the Southport North side transition barrier, and deck form installations have been completed on the North half of both spans.
June 2024
Throughout June workers completed the installation of rebar and forms on the northern half of abutment 2. Work platforms were installed at piers 2 and 3, with concrete repairs happening at pier 3 and concrete removal occurring at pier 2. The pier 2 fender system saw the installation of a staff gauge and a cat walk.
May 2024
Throughout May crews completed installing timber beams along the pier 2 fender system, welding down the grid deck on the swing span for stage 1, completed replacing cross frame struts on the north half of span 1, and completed removing shielding from the north side of the swing span and installing it on the south side. Crews completed balancing the span for this operational season. Additionally, crews completed removal and installation of Southport approach span cross frame struts, continued installing epoxy coating over the pier 2 fender system hardware, and completed demolition on the north half of abutment 2.
April 2024
Throughout April crews installed structural steel and timbers around pier 2 for the fender system. Crews removed span 1 grid deck, and continued welding the grid deck on the swing span. Cross frame struts on the north half of span 1 were removed and replaced.
March 2024
Throughout March crews from the department continued removing the fender system from the south side of pier 2 while simultaneously splicing and driving pile in the same area. Timbers were being installed along the north half of the pier 2 fender system. The installation of the grid deck on the swing span commenced. Additionally, the removal of the sidewalk from span 1 began. By the end of this phase, several tasks were completed, including driving pile, cutting off pile to elevation, and splicing pile for the pier 2 fender system. The installation of shielding on span 3 for stage 1 progressed alongside the welding of clip angles to the pile. Efforts were also made to install fender timbers on the South side of pier 2.
February 2024
Throughout February, significant progress was made by Cianbro and subcontractors on various aspects of the project. Activities included relocating barges to the South side of the bridge, initiating the removal of the fender system from the South side of pier 2, and installing clips and angles on the fender pile for the North side of pier 2. Beams were set along the top of the North half of the pier 2 fender system, while timbers were installed along its North half. Additionally, work continued on preparing existing stringers for paint and executing the painting process. Dynamic load testing was completed, and pile driving commenced on the South side of pier 2, signifying progress in structural enhancements and testing procedures. These collective efforts reflect steady advancement and attention to detail in the bridge renovation project.
January 2024
Throughout January workers continued with the removal of the grid deck, infill from the swing span, and continued the ongoing driving of piles for the pier 2 fender system. Additionally, efforts persisted in removing the fender system from pier 2, including the removal of swing gates from the North side of the bridge and existing steel grid deck. Pile driving and splicing operations continued, with the installation of new stringers at each end of the swing span and subcontractor welding of shear connectors to existing floor beams. The project also marked the receipt of the first delivery of structural timbers onsite for the new fender system. Concurrently, preparations for painting commenced, with the construction of a containment tent and the initiation of paint application on existing stringers.
December 2023
Cianbro removed existing pier 2 fender navigation lights and installed temporary solar powered navigation lights. Removed the sidewalk on the swing span. Installed shielding in preparation for deck removal. Assembled crane on the barge. Currently, crews are working on removing the grid deck from the swing span and driving pile for pier 2 fender system.
