Bridge cost estimates revealed Site in Baileyville less expensive than Calais four-lane option

CALAIS – If a decision about where to locate a third bridge is based solely on the cost of a four-lane highway that connects the new bridge to Route 9 and no other factor, this border community may find that its status as a “Gateway to Canada” could change from being a gateway to becoming a ghost town.

On Wednesday, representatives of the Maine Department of Transportation took four hours to explain, among other things, the cost of building a third bridge between this border community and St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

For the past few months, state and federal officials have considered placing the bridge at either the Calais Industrial Park, two miles north of the downtown area, or in Baileyville near the intersection of Routes 1 and 9, eight miles from downtown Calais.

On Wednesday, the state revealed that it was considering shifting the possible Routes 1 and 9 site upriver to avoid affecting the nearby Butler Islands. The islands became an issue when the Passamaquoddy Tribe claimed that although it owned the islands, the state had not consulted the tribe about placing bridge abutments there.

State officials said the cost to build a new bridge just north of Route 9 would be around $8.2 million. If the state moves the site a few hundred feet upriver, the cost would be $6.8 million. It would cost another $500,000 to expand either site to a four-lane highway in 2030. State officials said the added cost of construction was only a “guesstimate.”

In contrast, the other option, a bridge at the Calais Industrial Park, would cost $7.1 million. If a four-lane highway to connect the bridge to Route 9 is needed in the future, the cost of that highway would be from $10 million to $15 million, making the total cost upward of $22 million by 2030.

The disparity in numbers left some members of the Public Advisory Committee stunned. They questioned the MDOT’s traffic growth estimates. After the meeting, several wondered why the state would ever want a four-lane highway connecting with the two-lane Route 9.

Two bridges currently carry traffic to and from St. Stephen, the Ferry Point Bridge, located downtown, and the Milltown Bridge, located north of the downtown area. The plan is to build a new bridge that would route tractor-trailer traffic away from the downtown streets of the two communities.

In addition to cost information, members of the volunteer citizens group that has been asked to provide input on the project talked with state officials Wednesday about who was directing where a third bridge would be located.

The state officials said they were working in partnership with the New Brunswick Department of Transportation, and that neither side was trying to affect where the third bridge ultimately would be built.

The state officials also told the PAC members that although they would not be allowed to vote on where they believe the new bridge should be located, they would be allowed to provide either verbal or written input.

The state officials then reviewed the discussions they have held with the Passamaquoddy Tribe about the Butler Islands.

During the past few months, tribal representatives have noted that the MDOT has not made the tribe part of the siting process. They also have observed that the MDOT has not discussed the Route 9 site and the possibility of placing abutments on the Butler Islands the tribe claims to own.

MDOT consultant Bill Plumpton explained that they thought they opened a dialogue with the tribe but apparently that had not happened. He said tribal Gov. Richard Doyle of Pleasant Point had met with MDOT project planner Kevin Rousseau and Jim Linker of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. From meeting the tribe indicated its interest in the study area revolved primarily around two issues: the ecology of the St. Croix and the need to attract tourism to the Pleasant Point reservation.

During the meeting Wednesday, the state officials said the PAC members’ interest in possibly establishing a toll highway had not been discounted, and the MDOT was still looking into the issue. It was clear during the public comment portion of the meeting that the businesspeople of Calais were continuing to fight to have the bridge located at the industrial park. They, like the PAC members, urged the MDOT to enlist the assistance of the State Planning Office to examine the economic impact if traffic were pulled away from the city. MDOT officials said they had approached the State Planning Office for input and would do so again.

Former state Sen. Harold Silverman complimented the NBDOT on designing a highway system that would not affect St. Stephen adversely. Silverman, looking straight at officials, urged them to treat Calais the same way.

“We would hope and like to see the state of Maine plan and design the same excellent opportunities for Calais, Maine, so this community will not become a ‘Gateway to a Ghost Town.’ Any professional knows that a community loses its traffic flow if the major highway is placed six miles away,” he said.

Baileyville Town Councilor Tony Tammaro also urged the state to place the bridge near Calais. He suggested that the state let its conscience be its guide and build the bridge in the industrial park.