The relative ease for commuter traffic along Bridge Street during the new bridge construction is likely to change soon, when the Bridge Street spur closes for six weeks.

Officials from Reed & Reed Inc., the construction company working on the project, requested the road be closed starting in June to allow for utility work to take place for the new bridge. The new bridge will be aligned roughly with where the spur is now, running between the Edwards Block and Saccarappa Park parcel.

The City Council unanimously approved the closure May 11.

Starting in mid-June, access to the spur will be closed, meaning all vehicles will have to continue onto the intersection of Bridge and Main streets in order to turn right onto Main Street. Large commercial vehicles, which will be unable to turn right at the intersection, will be detoured left and then onto William Clarke Drive from Church Street.

City officials and a representative from Reed & Reed discussed the street closure during a workshop prior to the May 11 City Council meeting.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said this week that, if construction stays on track, the spur will be closed starting the week of June 15.

At last week’s meeting, Bryant said construction is running ahead of schedule, with Reed & Reed expecting to have traffic flowing over the new bridge by the end of this year.

The design of the new Bridge Street bridge and pedestrian walkway project, headed by the Maine Department of Transportation with added funds from the city toward streetscape enhancements, looks to shift Westbrook’s downtown to a more walkable and business-friendly destination.

The state’s role is to overhaul the aging bridge, built in 1956, which will include a complete realignment of the intersection of Bridge and Main streets. The $6.2 million project will be funded mostly by the state, with related public improvements paid for by the city, at an estimated cost of about $1.4 million. However, after offsetting grants and state compensation, costs to Westbrook will fall to under $1 million.

The main concern about the spur closure, Bryant said, is the “displacement” of parking that will be caused, specifically for the businesses housed in the Edwards Block building. There are 21 spaces in the lot beside the building.

Bryant said the parking will be replaced with 12-15 spaces in the Saccarappa Park site, which is currently used by Reed & Reed as a lay down area for construction equipment. The additional six spaces will be created behind the building where the spur begins.

Bryant said he met with the building owner, Joyce Talbot, and with Frog & Turtle owner James Tranchemontagne, to discuss the spur closure and the parking plan.

City Councilor Victor Chau asked if signage could be provided in the area, letting motorists and pedestrians know that the surrounding businesses are open.

“With all the construction and traffic there, some people might assume the businesses are closed or it’s too hard to get there,” he said.

Bryant said the city will be posting signs on the approaches to the construction area.

Councilor John O’Hara asked about the length of the closure, parking enforcement, and the possibility of night work.

“How are we going to enforce the spaces dedicated to the Edwards Block?” he said.

Bryant said the parking will be monitored, and have additional signage.

Jim Wentworth, the project manager for Reed & Reed, said no night work will take place as part of the six-week spur closure, but that the company will need to do night work along Main Street later in the bridge project.

Wentworth said if residents have concerns, they should be directed toward City Hall, which can relay them to the Maine Department of Transportation.

The Bridge Street spur, already lined with construction cones this week, will be closed for an estimated six weeks starting June 15. Crews will complete utility work, the new bridge approach and intersection with Main Street. Staff photo by Andrew Rice