With name selected, bridge celebration planning begins

BUCKSPORT – Now that a new proposed name for the bridge across the Penobscot River seems headed for legislative approval, local organizers can focus their efforts on planning events to celebrate the bridge’s opening.

A committee has been working with the Maine Department of Transportation on the initial phase of the preparations and met this week to encourage volunteers to get involved in planning the celebration.

Last week, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation voted unanimously to recommend that the bridge be named Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observation Tower. The new proposed name replaces one recommended by local legislators which drew opposition from residents in some areas, particularly on the western side of the river.

With a unanimous vote in committee, the new name is unlikely to draw much opposition when it goes to the full Legislature, according to State Sen. Richard Rosen, one of the sponsors of the original bill. The new name should also consolidate regional support for the celebration planning, he said.

“The key thing at this point is to bring local communities together to get behind plans for the celebrations,” Rosen said.

Initial plans call for two celebrations: one in October geared to local residents to give them an opportunity to walk on the bridge and visit the observation tower; and a second, larger celebration next summer which organizers hope will attract participants from a wider area.

According to Alvion Kimball of Orland, the chairman of the committee, the group has established subcommittees to help plan activities for both celebrations and needs volunteers to work in all areas ranging from general events, fundraising, and transportation to music, food and vendors, advertising and marketing and special events.

The bridge will not be completed in time for the October celebration, according to DOT spokeswoman Carol Morris. But at least one lane of the bridge will be open to allow people to walk across the bridge and enjoy the view from the deck. The observation tower will be open and the celebration will include visits up the tower.

Work on the bridge will continue during the week until it is completed, Morris said, but the bridge will be open to pedestrians and the observation deck will be open on weekends through October. DOT crews expect the bridge to be open to vehicle traffic some time in December.

No funds have been set aside for the celebrations, and the committee hopes to raise money to publicize the events, especially in the summer. Kimball said the state tourism bureau has money available for publicizing statewide events.

“We hope to get part of that fund,” he said.

David Milan, who heads the fundraising committee, said they also will be looking to national corporations to provide some funding. Having two celebrations will allow the committee to focus their plans, he said, with the summer event looking to draw a wider audience, looking to the northeast region and nationwide.

“Any time you talk about marketing, you’re talking about money,” he said. “The more money we can raise, the wider we can reach. It’s not uncommon for people to come from all 50 states for events like this.”

In addition, Milan said, the celebrations offer an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to tie into the events to raise funds for their groups. The committee, he said, will act as a clearinghouse for various fund-raising efforts and will authorize the use of an official bridge celebration logo.

The Friends of Fort Knox and the Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce already plan to sell raffle tickets for the first elevator ride up to the observation deck.

“This is really a good opportunity for nonprofits to raise funds,” he said. “We want to widen this out to the entire region.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to help on any of the committees can sign up on the DOT or the Chamber of Commerce Web sites at www.waldohancockbridge.com or bucksportbaychamber.com.