WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - On January 6th, 2025, the Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Ticonic Bridge to all traffic for approximately six months as part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge, which carries Route 201 over the Kennebec River between Waterville and Windslow.

Both vehicles and pedestrians will be required to follow the posted detour routes. Vehicles will be detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. Pedestrians will be detoured north to the Two Cent Bridge. Following the six-month-long closure, eastbound vehicle traffic will be allowed back on the bridge, but westbound vehicle traffic will remain prohibited from the bridge for between 18 and 24 months while construction continues.

When the bridge reopens to eastbound vehicle traffic, MaineDOT will also reopen the bridge to pedestrian traffic, using the new sidewalk on the upstream side of the bridge. On-site work for the Ticonic Bridge replacement project began in December 2022. The structure is being replaced on the existing alignment. The new bridge will be a two-span structure, made of corrosion-resistant steel girders and a concrete deck.

A single concrete pier will be built in the river to support the new bridge. This will reduce the likelihood of ice jams. Portions of the old bridge are more than 100 years old and at the end of their useful life. The new bridge will carry five lanes of traffic (similar to the existing bridge), feature widened shoulders, and include sidewalks on both sides.

On-site construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2027.

The contractor on this project is Cianbro of Pittsfield. The contract amount is $52.8 million.