Caribou officials, residents press Maine DOT to avoid long closure of Fort Street bridge
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Summary
City staff and residents told the Planning Board that an online‑only DOT meeting and a preliminary DOT plan that could close the Fort Street bridge for months raised concerns over emergency response, school bus times for roughly 140 children, and economic impacts; city leaders have asked DOT for a face‑to‑face meeting and more engineering analysis to explore keeping one lane open.
City staff, council members and residents told the Caribou Planning Board on Wednesday that Maine DOT’s current plan for the Fort Street bridge project — presented in an online meeting — risks isolating residents on the east side of the Aroostook River and would impose significant travel and safety burdens if the bridge is fully closed for months.
Penny (city staff) summarized a packet of DOT responses and said staff had compiled a 23‑page set of residents’ comments and a two‑page executive summary for council review. A council member who spoke for the city said prolonged closure "is going to be devastating to our local economy and also the quality of life for anyone who lives on the other side of the river," and noted school officials estimated about 140 children would have longer bus rides if the bridge were closed.
Multiple speakers urged DOT to reconsider a full closure and examine engineering options to keep one lane open. One councilor criticized DOT’s explanation that closing a lane would cause the bridge to fail, saying the agency gave "no supporting, like, rationale" and asked for more detailed engineering analysis. Bagley, the council liaison, said the council had been pressing Mark Parlin at Maine DOT and expected DOT to send a representative for in‑person outreach.
Speakers also described practical concerns: Grimes Road, an suggested detour, is prone to spring flooding and is not built to handle heavy traffic; emergency services are concerned about response times if ambulances and fire apparatus must reroute; local businesses that rely on cross‑river traffic — including agritourism sites such as Circle B Farms and Gons Farm — could face lost revenue during a long closure.
City staff said they had transmitted potential additional costs for schools, utilities, fire and ambulance services to the state for consideration. Residents and the council requested a visible, in‑person DOT meeting so citizens can ask questions directly and see DOT representatives respond face to face.
Next steps: staff, council and liaison Bagley said they will continue to press Maine DOT to present alternatives and to hold an in‑person meeting in Caribou; DOT responses and the public comment record will be used in further advocacy.