The previous bridge served as a vital link between Madawaska and Edmundston for more than 100 years, until it became unsafe for heavier trucks to cross.
MADAWASKA, Maine — Government officials and members of the community came together in Madawaska on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of a new bridge along with a new port-of-entry.
It not only links two towns but two nations.
“It’s not just about the transportation of vehicles, it’s the connecting two cultures,” MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note said.
With the new Madawaska-Edmundston Bridge and port-of-entry, Van Note and other MaineDOT officials say people will now have a reliable path connecting both nations and no longer have to worry about the structural integrity of the old bridge.
“Getting it open just safely and reliably for the next 100 years—that’s just a huge milestone,” Van Note said.
According to project leaders, the new port-of-entry and bridge will be much more spacious with new security checkpoints, allowing for more lanes and an easier …