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Goose River bridge construction pushed to 2027; town and MaineDOT discuss scope and local costs
Summary
Officials said the Goose River bridge project will likely start in 2027. MaineDOT is engaged and is supporting joint federal funding applications, but elements such as sidewalks, ornamental work and utility relocations — including a sewer line near the pump station — may fall to the town depending on scope.
Town officials told the Rockport Select Board on Aug. 18 that construction on the Goose River bridge has been delayed and is now expected to occur in 2027.
The town manager said MaineDOT has included the bridge in its three-year work plan and is pursuing funding, and that state engineers remain committed to the project. "This project is in their work plan," the manager said, adding that the department is "serious about this." MaineDOT is supporting a joint congressional-directed spending (CDS) application for the project with the town, but the application’s status in Washington is not yet known.
Board members pressed on what the town might be asked to pay. The manager said some items often considered by DOT as outside core scope — decorative sidewalks, certain finishes or burying utility lines — could become town costs. He specifically flagged a sewer line that runs at an angle into the pump station near the bridge; DOT has asked that it be removed, creating potential additional work and cost that remains under discussion.
Officials said they are working with engineers and the VPI task force to define the municipal responsibilities and hoped to return with firmer cost and scheduling information. Board members raised traffic and downtown impacts if the bridge work necessitates extended closures, noting likely detours and ripple effects on Main Street and High Street.
Next steps: continue engineering coordination with MaineDOT and refine a scope-and-cost list for the select board and the VPI group; await updates on the federal CDS application.
