Maine Department of Transportation documents: Statewide plan | Lewiston projects
AUGUSTA — Lewiston’s historic Wiseman Bridge on Chestnut Street is finally going to get some long overdue TLC, according to a recently released work plan for the Maine Department of Transportation.
The bridge, built in 1927, spans one of the city’s industrial canals and features a distinctive rainbow arch. It is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, according to Bridgehunter.com.
It will receive about $52,000 in repairs, according to the report.
In all, more than $5.1 million will be spent by MDOT on highway and bridge projects in Lewiston in 2016 as part of the agency’s latest work plan.
The projects are the start of a work plan that goes through 2018 and includes dozens of other projects, including a more-than-$5-million overhaul starting in 2017 of the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge, formerly known as South Bridge, which connects Lewiston’s Little Canada neighborhood to Auburn’s New Auburn neighborhood.
Details in the plan were released by state Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, on Thursday.
The work plan includes more than $2.2 billion worth of construction and maintenance projects statewide. About a quarter of the funding — $520 million — is scheduled for 497 capital projects in 2016.
Included are projects for highways and bridges, upgrades to facilities for passenger and freight railroad, buses, aviation, ferries, ports and marine facilities, and bicycle-pedestrian access.
According to Libby’s release, MDOT is doubling the number of bridge projects in the state compared to last year, with an estimated 265 locations.
The one-of-a-kind Wiseman Bridge was not previously on the list but was added after lawmakers from Lewiston’s legislative delegation stressed its importance, Libby said in a prepared statement.
Other projects on the list for Lewiston in 2016 include renovations and paving for:
* Bartlett Street, beginning at College Street and extending southerly 1.08 miles to East Avenue: $1.5 million.
* Route 126, beginning at Randall Road and extending easterly 1.38 miles: $550,000.
* Route 202, beginning at Strawberry Avenue and extending easterly 0.87 of a mile to Memorial Avenue, then beginning at Stetson Road and extending easterly 1.85 miles to the Greene town line: $1.16 million.
* Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, work on Ramp E: $130,000.
The plan also includes $589,000 for improvements and planning for Lewiston-Auburn’s Citylink bus service in 2016.
Maine DOT Work Plan — 2016-2018
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