BIDDEFORD — A bridge that people can walk across to connect between the mill districts of Biddeford and Saco was lifted by crane and put into place on Wednesday.

Once additional bridge and site work is completed, probably by mid-November, the new pedestrian bridge will be open to the public.

Several people who live in the Saco Island Terrace Condominiums were watching around noontime on Wednesday as workers with Scott Construction used a large crane to lift the pre-assembled steel bridge and then lower it into place.

“I’ve been waiting for this a long time,” said Hilda Shelton. “It’s going to be a lot handier to go across the bridge to North Dam Mill to go to the coffee shop and downtown Biddeford. There’s so much going on on that side.”

“It’s exciting,” said Donna Hinds. “I think it’s going to be great for the area. I think it’s going to create more flow” between the two cities.

Lani Campbell said she’s looking forward to being able to use the bridge to cross the Saco River and have a shorter trip to Biddeford’s mill district.

“I’m hoping to take classes at Heartwood College of Arts,” located in Biddeford’s Pepperell Mill Campus, she said, and the pedestrian bridge will make it more easily accessible.

While the bridge is now in place, more work is needed before it is open to public use, said Biddeford City Planner Greg Tansley.

Scott Construction will be pouring concrete over the bridge’s aluminum foot bed later this week, he said.

A smaller bridge, connecting the mezzanine of the Island Terrace Condominiums as well as a staircase leading from the lower level abutment on the river’s edge, will be put in place on the Saco side over the next week or two.

In Biddeford, concrete sidewalks are being created to connect the first phase of that city’s river walk, which crosses the road from Mechanics Park at the intersection of Main and Water streets to North Dam Mill, to the pedestrian bridge.

The sidewalk will go along the parking lot side of North Dam Mill to the bridge. A concrete trail and landscaping will be installed at the Biddeford entrance to the bridge.

The bridge project, connecting the twin cities’ mill districts and river walks, began last year after the cities received Maine Department of Transportation funding for design work.

Construction began earlier this year.

The majority of the $595,000 project, 80 percent, was paid for by the MDOT. Each of the cities paid 10 percent of the cost.

After the bridge construction is completed, electrical work will be conducted that will include streetlights at each end of the bridge, foot-level lighting and low-level floodlights below the bridge to draw attention to the structure.

One of the greatest benefits of the pedestrian bridge to mill district residents is that “there will be better access from the mill district to the Amtrak train station,” said Tansley.

Saco City Planner Bob Hamblen said he is working to secure an easement from landowners so the city can build a trail to the train station so people won’t have to walk to Main Street to get there.

He said he’s thrilled with the new bridge.

“It looks great,” said Hamblen, “I’m pleased with the design. The only drawback is that we don’t get to cut the ribbon today and invite the whole world.”

The pedestrian bridge will be open to the public once all of the work is complete later this year, and it will be open year-round. An opening ceremony will take place later this fall or next spring.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.