Route 113 in Evans Notch will close for bridge replacement

Route 113 through Evans Notch will be closed starting Friday, Nov. 14, for a bridge replacement.Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Little Lary Brook Bridge on Route 113 in Batchelders Grant Township to replace the bridge. Little Larry Brook flows under Route 113 in Batchelders Grant just south of the Gilead town line. The bridge is located .3 miles south of the Gilead town line. Crews will be replacing a temporary bridge that was put in place after heavy rains washed out the existing bridge on July 11-12, 2007. The previous bridge had a span of 17 feet and was 18 feet wide. The new bridge will be 60 feet long and 22 feet wide.It will cost $550,000 to replace the bridge. The Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division is funding the repairs using emergency relief funds for federally owned roads. Route 113 will be closed to the public during the replacement. Route 113 is annually closed to winter traffic as well. Signs will be posted alerting motorists that the bridge will be closed to traffic. Crews will be working through the winter to replace the bridge. Snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and others who utilize the road when it is closed in the winter will still be able to do so. This section of ITS 80, part of Maines Interstate Snowmobile Trail System, will still be open during the bridge replacement. Even though this section of road will be closed this winter, those who wish to access ITS 80 can do so from the Route 2 Rest Area in Gilead. Technical Construction of Turner, Maine will remove and replace the existing bridge.If the project proceeds as planned and there are no unexpected delays or problems, Maine Department of Transportation plans to reopen the bridge on April 1, 2009. Whether or not Route 113 opens at that time will depend upon the severity of the winter and how much snow remains at the beginning of April. The entire project is expected to be completed by May 30, 2009.