Repairs, Rails, and Requests: The Future of the Swinging Bridge

Welcome back! If you remember, a few months ago we took you on a tour of bridge maintenance and what work needed to be done that your participation in our Virtual 5K helped us fund. This week, we're going to share with you the progress of those repairs and what needs to still be done!

To start, we're happy to report that repairs are coming along on schedule. Because of weather and temperature conditions, not all the necessary repairs could be completed during the winter. However, the winter repairs have been completed, and spring work is on the docket to start very soon. The winter repairs included, among other things:

• Repairs to the broken weld on the northeast anchor bolt on the Topsham tower
  
• Replacing 40 loose, soft, or degraded deck boards
  
• Replacing broken lacing bars in the horizontal struts at the Brunswick tower
  
• Ensuring eye bolt connections on all floor beams were tightened
  
• Replacement of rails at the bottom of the Brunswick tower

These have been completed by CPM Constructors of Freeport and they will be painting soon. The town of Brunswick will be paying for the remaining work on the Brunswick tower, while SOSB will be paying for the rest of the bridge work. ​

New rail installed at the base of the Brunswick tower.

40 brand new deck boards now adorn the span of the bridge.

It appears that repairs will come under projected costs, but Nancy E Randolph, Treasurer of the Swinging Bridge cautioned, “The repair fund is drained to an uncomfortable level, knowing that there are always repairs and maintenance to be done on our beloved bridge.”

Again this year we won’t be able to schedule our annual benefit 5K event, following CDC guidelines, so we’re calling on everyone who loves the Swinging Bridge to show your support with any amount you can, to be added to the repair fund. We have a special gift for those who donate $50 or more, a T-shirt designed for those who showed support during the pandemic.  As always, you can donate to have an engraved brick installed at the base of the bridge. For details on brick donation, click here.
 
The people of Topsham and Brunswick continue to love, use, and support this historic bridge. All donations large and small will keep our bridge swinging far into the future.

DONATE TO SUPPORT THE SWINGING BRIDGE