MaineDOT to Use Conventional Steel Girders to Complete Stillwater River Bridge Project

MaineDOT to Use Conventional Steel Girders to Complete Stillwater River Bridge Project

MaineDOT to Use Conventional Steel Girders to Complete Stillwater River Bridge Project Engineering assessment of August 13 incident will continue as replacement work advances OLD TOWN - September 24, 2026 — The Maine Department of Transportation will use conventional steel girders for both bridges in the Llewellyn Estes Bridge replacement project over the Stillwater River. The approach provides a timely path toward completion while technical experts continue assessing the cause of the August 13 span failure. Commissioner Dale Doughty approved the recommendation of MaineDOT’s assessment team, which determined that, given the bridge supports already in place, conventional steel girders offer the most expeditious option at this time. “Moving forward with steel girders gives us a practical path toward completing these bridges while we continue the careful engineering work needed to determine what happened,” said Doughty. “We will keep the public informed as that work progresses.” The assessment is ongoing and will require significant time and complex engineering analysis. The decision does not establish the cause of failure or assign responsibility. Most of the foundations and substructure constructed prior to the incident will remain in use. MaineDOT is awaiting the contractor’s final demolition plan for review. Major cleanup and demolition work is expected to begin once the plan is approved and specialized equipment can be mobilized to the site. The Department will provide additional information about construction timing, costs and any changes affecting travelers as those details are established. Project updates, frequently asked questions, the complete memo from the assessment team, and previously released information are available on MaineDOT’s Old Town Stillwater Avenue Bridge Replacement webpage.