Ogunquit footbridge repairs drawing opposition

OGUNQUIT – A 60-year-old footbridge is the center of a dispute between artists and fishermen in Ogunquit.

An oddity of the past, the picturesque pedestrian drawbridge long has been a popular Perkins Cove landmark, offering views of the area’s galleries, boutiques, and fishing vessels.

The town voted in 1999 to spend more than $350,000 to repair the bridge’s foundation and the mechanism that raises and lowers the drawbridge.

While the narrow 140-foot footbridge is popular with tourists, some of the area’s fishermen say it’s more trouble than it’s worth. They maintain the bridge’s renovation will not keep the drawbridge from freezing in cold weather.

They also said the bridge’s mechanism is too low and could get ruined by water and sand.

“If we get a storm like we had in 1975, 1978 or even 1991, the mechanism will be buried under water and ruined,” said Tim Tower, whose family has fished in Perkins Cove for generations.

Several fishermen plan to meet with town officials to discuss the repair plans and to make sure the repairs won’t cost more than budgeted.

Meanwhile, a local group called Save the Bridge considers the bridge a historic gem, and argue that it should be saved at any cost. The group believes the bridge is the last of its type in the nation.

Amy Hubbard, whose family has run Finestkind Inc., a scenic-cruise boat out of the cove since 1956, said those whose livelihoods depend on the cove are watching closely to make sure the bridge repairs are done right.

“There definitely is a lot of interest in what happens with that bridge,” Hubbard said.

Originally, the bridge opened and closed on cables controlled by a hand crank, but the system was replaced with an electric and hydraulic mechanism about 30 years ago.

A switch at each end of the bridge can be used to raise and lower the structure. The mechanism that raises the drawbridge – operated either by the harbormaster or, more quaintly, by tourists – became unreliable after so many years on the job. The bridge’s foundation also was weakening.

Town officials initially considered replacing the bridge altogether. But some artists protested, fearing the allure of the picturesque cove would be ruined by a modern bridge.

Officials determined that they could repair the bridge rather than building a new one.

Town Manager Bruce Locke said he’s confident the repair plans are accurate.

“Every time the concern has been brought to my attention, I’ve taken it to the engineer. He said he’s confident it’ll be OK,” he said.