Kennebunk Bridge MAY16

Bridging Ever give a thought to that cute little bridge that connects Kennebunk’s Lower Village to Kennebunkport’s Dock ...

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Bridging Ever give a thought to that cute little bridge that connects Kennebunk’s Lower Village to Kennebunkport’s Dock Square? By Sharon Cummins

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he swinging bridge that connects Kennebunk Lower Village to Dock Square in Kennebunkport is scheduled to be replaced by the Maine Department of Transportation next year. In a resort as colorful as the Kennebunks, where this 1933 landmark on 1896 granite serves as the link between the gin-martini side of the Kennebunk River (Kennebunk) and the vodkamartini side (the Port), that’s the story of a century. Two centuries, actually.

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Aerial photo by maine Imaging - dave cleaveland; inset: photo by Rev. Frank Lamb, courtesy kennebunkport historical society

Kennebunks

Its days are numbered: The Mathew Lanigan Bridge was built in 1933, and it’s due for replacement next year. Plan on trading a bit of traffic disruption for a much better structure–for cars and pedestrians.

beginnings A toll drawbridge bridge was first built here by subscription in 1810 to accommodate growing Kennebunk River shipping and shipbuilding industries. The drawbridge was made free in 1831 when the dirt path that extended from either side of it was designated a County Road. Since then, damaging storms have occasionally necessitated repairs, but most of the major bridge rebuilding projects there have enjoyed the benefit of advance warning.

During one freshet on March 1, 1896, the old wooden drawbridge unexpectedly collapsed with a reverberating crash when huge chunks of ice rushing downriver on a violent ebb tide cut through one of its supporting pilings. An impromptu bridge committee was assembled to ensure transit between the Lower Village train depot and Kennebunkport hotels was in place before the arrival of money-spending summer folk. Yearround residents of both villages, who

shared a post office, a milkman, and a family culture, suffered immediate hardship with the unexpected loss of their intertown connection. A temporary bridge was hastily constructed between the coal shed in Lower Village and the wharf where David’s KPT restaurant now stands. The bridge met the urgent need, but its stationary design meant it had to be dismantled every time a coal schooner made a delivery to Titcomb’s Coal Shed on Perkins Wharf. MAY 2 0 1 6 3 9

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Falling Down Within a couple of months it became painfully clear the permanent bridge wouldn’t be ready in time for tourist season. Support pilings were added to the temporary bridge, and efforts were made to make its approaches more presentable for the “summer visitors of a certain class.” The dark and dirty coal shed at the Lower Village approach quickly earned the derogatory nickname “The Subway” for attracting what the press called “the unwashed and thirsty,” “highwaymen,” and “noble deserters of toil.” Drunks, pickpockets, and the unemployed lurking under cover there were equally offensive to ladies of refinement, who wouldn’t willingly cross the bridge even at midday. In fact, the ladies were so affected it became necessary to pull Constable Dolliff from his regular uptown beat to patrol the Subway. Construction of the permanent bridge was delayed by one problem after another, not the least of which was project cost-sharing between Kennebunk and Kennebunk-

port in light of the juxtaposition of each town to the actual channel. At the beginning of July 1896, it was noted in The Wave, “Today the bridge is but little nearer completion than it was the morning after the storm.” Kennebunkport selectmen ultimately agreed to pay the lion’s share of the bridge replacement costs, and the project crawled forward. Troubled Waters swing span design was approved and the lowest of eleven bids to build the span off-site was accepted. Preliminary coffer-dam work for laying the supporting stone abutments commenced but was halted after a week of fruitless pumping. The following comment on the cofferdam pumping apparatus, which cost $80 per day to use, appeared in the Biddeford Journal on July 10, 1896: “Work on the new bridge was again postponed Thursday. A larger boiler, a larger pump and a larger man (from a point of experience) are going to see what they can do with the blamed

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from top: Fred Ortlip; Teresa Chrzanowski Flisiukl

The replacement of the Mathew Lanigan bridge (named in 2013 for a well-known local businessman following his untimely death) is scheduled by the Maine Department of Transportation between January and May 2017. It’s a 1933 bridge set on 1896 granite abutments, and the bridge is now deteriorated to the point of structural deficiency though the abutments are deemed sound. It’s estimated the bridge will be completely closed for 30 to 45 days. “A 30- to 45-day road closure is actually very short,” says engineer Leanne Timberlake of the Maine DOT. Easy for her to say. She lives in Livermore. “I’ve been a project manager on many Maine bridges, several with significant public interest like this one, where we engaged a local bridge advisory committee. Getting feedback on various options and ideas throughout the development of the project has been exceedingly helpful.” Timberlake is nothing if not reassuring. “When we get closer to construction, we’ll engage in a broad community outreach program to communicate upcoming activities, including single-lane closures and full road closures.” What will we love about the new bridge? “The existing bridge has two five-foot-wide sidewalks. The bridge will have six-foot-wide sidewalks. We’re working with the two towns on including interpretive signage and the old navigational light fixtures into the design.” And bigger boxes for the geraniums?

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thing this week.” Stone abutments were finally placed. The new iron bridge span arrived at the end of July and was about to be installed when a vague announcement was made by the bridge committee that the span was found to be unsuitable and would be returned to The Groton Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Groton, New York. Under the Bridge Late the following winter, an explanaMAY 2 0 1 6 4 1

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tion of the inadequacies discovered in that low-bid bridge span–from inside sources wishing to remain anonymous–finally SUBSCRIBE TO appeared in the Biddeford Journal. One of TM the Subway tramps who had in a previous life been a riveter by trade had pointed out to the workmen that “the iron span was a We offer a wide selection of kitchen and second-hand affair, and he proceeded to bath fixtures, plumbing and heating prove his assertion.” Experts were called in New England’s North Star to inspect the span. They concurred with supplies, and much more. Let one of the Subway dweller’s assessment, and the (207) 775- 4339 • portlandmagazine.com our experienced professionals guide you span was rejected. The explanation that appeared in Kenthrough the fixture design process. nebunk’s next Annual Report was as folWe feature products from Kohler, Delta, lows: “The bridge on its arrival, not being Owned & Operated Since 1959 considered of sufficient weight to carry a Moen, and Bertch, just to mention a few. road roller or possible electric car, was, by We also sell and install Mitsubishi, LG, and the advice of experts called in by the two Locally Owned & Operated Since 1959 Daikin split systems. towns, formally rejected.” We offer a wide selection of kitchen and The former riveter was never named nor bath fixtures, plumbing and heating From small jobs toand commercial supplies, much more. Let one ofjobs publicly thanked by the Bridge Committee. our experienced professionals guide you He was more than likely run off by Constawe are ready to help you! through the fixture design process. We offer a wide selection of kitchen ble Dolliff. Hadand he not made his discovery We feature products from Kohler, Delta, Our showroom hours are M-F 8 ambath to 5fixtures, pm plumbing and heating known, the inferior bridge span would have Owned & Operated Since 1959 Moen, and Bertch, just to mention a few. supplies, and much more. Let one of been installed, no one being the wiser until Weappointment. also sell and install Mitsubishi, LG, and and Saturdays by our experienced professionals guide you Daikin split systems. its inevitable premature failure. n

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