Maine Covered Bridge Back Open After Truck Fell Through It in August

One of the few covered bridges in Maine that cars can cross has been out of commission for six months with a giant hole in it, but repairs to the bridge are now complete and it has re-opened.

The History of Babb's Bridge

Babb's Bridge crosses over the Presumpscot River from Hurricane Road in Windham, Maine to Gorham on the other side. According to Wikipedia, the covered bridge is a single-span queenspost truss bridge, with a length of 79 feet width of 13 feet 9 inches which is just enough to allow one car to pass through it at a time.

It was built in 1976 as a replica of the 19th-century bridge that came before it, which was destroyed by arson in 1973.

READ MORE: These 8 Historic Covered Bridges in Maine Date Back as Far as 1840

Six Times Over The Weight Limit

On August 23, 2024, a dump truck hauling crushed gravel was six times over Babbs Bridge's posted weight limit, causing it to crash through the bridge deck, leaving a giant hole and other damage in its wake. Luckily, the driver only had minor injuries but got a citation for a "bridge violation, causing damage to the bridge due to excessive weight."

Kevyn Fowler posted a video on his Facebook page showing the damage to the bridge and the truck in the river below from the camera of his drone that he flew through the bridge.

Repairs to the Bridge

According to WMTW repairs began in early January, four months earlier than planned. The cost of repairing the bridge was estimated to be $110,000. Six months after the accident on February 20, repairs were complete and Babb's Bridge was opened to traffic again. Gary Plummer of Windham had the honor of being the first to cross.