Trucks to be metered on Maine-NB bridge

FORT KENT, Maine – A new traffic signal system has been installed to meter trucks using the bridge between Fort Kent, Maine and Clair, N.B.

Eleven new signal lights are intended to control the flow of heavy truck traffic over the international bridge. A computerized camera will trigger the system, allowing trucks onto the bridge in 10-minute intervals.

The measures were taken following inspections of the 81-year-old bridge by New Brunswick and Maine transportation engineers earlier this year. In January, traffic was restricted to vehicles weighing less than 3 tons. Restrictions have since been eased and the weight limit has been increased to 4 tons in anticipation of resuming all heavy traffic on a tightly controlled basis using a combination of cameras and signal lights.

According to the Bangor Daily News, the 40 to 45 trucks that would normally use the bridge daily have been forced to detour to the next closest port of entry, connecting Madawaska to Edmundston, N.B., about 15 miles away.

Under the new system, only one heavy truck at a time will be allowed on the bridge every 10 minutes. That truck must drive directly down the middle of the bridge.

As a big rig is crossing the bridge, traffic becomes one-way with cars and pickups allowed to follow it to the other side.

Trucks entering Canada from Fort Kent now must first proceed to a staging area on Pearl Street in front of the town office. A camera will detect a truck once it arrives at that staging area and trigger the signal lights to begin to cycle. It will give the truck a green light to proceed onto Main Street and another green light signals the left turn onto the bridge.

All traffic traveling east or west on Main Street near the international bridge will be stopped at red lights until the truck enters the bridge. Then the Main Street lights again turn green and traffic can continue.

If there are no trucks waiting at the Pearl Street location or at the Canadian staging area, the cycle is in standby mode, and two-lane light traffic may continue on the bridge.

The fix is meant to be temporary until a new bridge is constructed 15 feet down the St. John River to replace the deteriorating steel and concrete structure.

The New Brunswick government recently announced it will commit to funding its share of the $11 million project and plans to seek construction bids this spring. Funds are already available for Maine’s share of the cost.

Once construction begins, it will take about two years to complete the new bridge.