
Appeals Court Rules Brunswick/Topsham Bridge in Maine Should Be Replaced
For several years, it's been a battle between those who want to keep and those who want to replace the Frank J. Wood bridge that spans the Androscoggin River between Brunswick and Topsham. One side feels it's historically significant and the other favors building a new modern bridge. As of January 14, 2025, the battle is over after a First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decided on the matter.
History of the Frank J. Wood Bridge
Since 1796, there have been seven bridges that have been built between Brunswick and Topsham, most of which were destroyed by fire or flooding. The Frank J. Wood Bridge is number seven and was opened in 1932.
According to Wikipedia, the bridge was originally called the Brunswick-Topsham Bridge, for obvious reasons, but was renamed the Frank J. Wood Bridge, after a local farmer who suggested where it should be built.
Opposition to Building a New Bridge
In 2019, Friends of the Frank J. Wood Bridge, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Historic Bridge Foundation filed a lawsuit with the US District Court for the District of Maine. The lawsuit was one of several aimed at preventing the building of a new bridge and instead repairing it.
In a press release, the Maine DOT said that the Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on January 10 to uphold a District Court decision issued a year before to have the bridge rebuilt.
The Maine DOT also said that all work on the new bridge should be finished in late 2026, but it is expected to be open to traffic earlier than that.
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