Beals Island Bridge

The Beals Island Bridge is a vital transportation link connecting the island community of Beals to the mainland at Jonesport over the Moosabec Reach. The structure has a history spanning over six decades, featuring an original mid-century bridge and a modern, long-lasting replacement.

Before the first bridge, the two towns were connected by a ferry service after the Town of Beals incorporated as a separate municipality from Jonesport in 1925.

• Dedication and Opening: The original Jonesport-Beals Island Bridge was dedicated on August 9, 1958. Its construction marked a significant milestone, as it was one of the largest bridges in Maine at the time to link an offshore island with the mainland.
• Toll Road: The original bridge began as a toll road, with a tollbooth located on the Jonesport side.
• Toll Abolishment: The toll was abolished by the Maine Legislature on June 14, 1967, making the crossing free for residents and visitors.
• Structural Deterioration: By the 21st century, inspections revealed that the bridge, built in the late 1950s, was severely deteriorating, specifically significant pile section loss at several pier locations. A complete replacement was needed.

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) replaced the aging structure with a modern design built for a much longer lifespan.

• Funding and Design: The project received more than $10.5 million in federal funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant program. The goal was to build a "forever bridge" that would last 100 years.
• Construction: Construction on the new bridge began in early 2017 and was a difficult undertaking given the coastal environment with 12-foot tidal fluctuations, deep water, and strong currents.
• New Structure Details: The new bridge is approximately 1,062-foot-long consisting of eight prestressed concrete girder spans supported by drilled shaft piers. It was constructed parallel to the east of the original bridge.
• Opening and Dedication: The replacement bridge was completed and opened to traffic in July 2020. It was officially dedicated on August 25, 2020. The old 1958 bridge was subsequently demolished.
  
  

Today, the Beals Island Bridge remains the essential, and only, continuous land link for the people of Beals Island to access the mainland.