Lebanon-Milton bridge replacement moves forward

The New Bridge Road bridge replacement project is almost official. (Lebanon Voice file photo)

CONCORD, N.H. - The replacement of the New Bridge Road bridge is one step closer today as New Hampshire Department of Transportation engineer Nancy Mayville confirmed she has received paperwork from Milton authorizing her to move forward and that Milton has committed its share of the funding for engineering costs.

Mayville, however, said she was hesitant to give any kind of estimate on a timeframe for the span’s replacement, adding she had to confer with Maine DOT officials and look at New Hampshire’s bridge replacement schedule as well.

“I don’t want to create any kind of expectation (on timeframe),” she said today. “We have to work it out with Maine, who will take the lead.”

Milton Town administrator Liz Dionne told The Lebanon Voice earlier this week that Milton selectmen had signed all the necessary paperwork and that she had mailed it to Mayville sometime last week.

Milton’s share of the engineering costs would be $15,000 and Dionne said selectmen are ready to send a check when asked by the state’s DOT.

Chip Getchell, a Maine DOT spokesman, said today he was unaware of the developments but welcomed the news.

Right now offiicals are looking at a two-lane truss bridge which is estimated to cost about $1.4 million, putting Milton’s full outlay at around, $140,000. The engineering costs are estimated to be $150,000, which puts Milton’s share at $15,000

The funding formula is 50-50 between Maine and New Hampshire, with Milton kicking in 20 percent of New Hampshire’s share.

The bridge was reduced to foot traffic several years ago and taken out in the fall of 2012.

Its removal has resulted in the closure of at least one Milton business and has made for a difficult time on the Lebanon side, too, as Everetts Cove Marina had relied on ice cream sales to Milton residents as well as Mi-Te-Jo campground visitors to keep it above water.