Old Town bridge collapse: Maine DOT releases preliminary findings

The Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT) has released preliminary findings and video footage regarding the partial collapse of the Llewellyn Estes Bridge in Old Town on August 13. The incident occurred while crews were pouring concrete for the bridge deck on the new northbound span over the Stillwater River.

Three construction contractors were injured during the collapse. One worker was hospitalized with a broken ankle, while two others were treated and released at the scene with minor injuries. The bridge was under construction and not open to the public at the time.

Preliminary observations suggest the failure likely involved the buckling of an outermost girder on the upstream side, which triggered a cascading failure of adjacent girders. The project utilized fiber-reinforced polymer composite tub girders, a technology developed by the University of Maine and manufactured by Basalt International, designed to resist weather-related corrosion.

Maine DOT is working with experts from the Federal Highway Administration’s Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center to conduct forensic testing and computer modeling. OSHA is also investigating the incident. A temporary bridge has been installed, and a plan to remove debris is currently under development.