Deterioration of railings on Jellison Bridge
Photo: City of Sanford
By Angelina Keizer, UNE Intern
Residents of a dead-end road near the Shapleigh town line are unhappy since the City of Sanford closed a bridge that had given their road two access points on Route 109 instead of one.
The Jellison Bridge on S-Curve Road was closed to traffic in 2021 for safety reasons, according to Public Works Director Matt Hill. He said the bolts supporting bridge railings failed from road salt corrosion and one rail section actually fell into the Mousam River.
For the six households on S-Curve Road, the result has been inadequate access for plow trucks, ambulances, and garbage trucks, according to resident Jaime Farjardo. He said they cannot turn around on the narrow road and must back their way in.
The school bus does not enter the road at all, forcing one family to drive their children to another bus stop. Furthermore, residents report the area has seen an increase in illegal dumping, litter and nighttime partying since the closure.
Lien and Jaime Fajardo with Jellison Bridge in background
Photo: Jaime Fajardo
Concerns have been raised that the lack of access could pose a risk. Fajardo warned, “Somebody’s going to have an issue and wish they had that bridge. All my neighbors and I would like to see that bridge back open.”
Director Hill made a presentation about the bridge to the Sanford City Council last week. The bridge, originally part of the curving State Route 109, became a local access road after the highway was straightened and a new bridge was constructed upstream. Now deemed a leftover piece of infrastructure, the city is not pursuing restoration, according to Hill. He obtained a $12,500 quote for an engineering analysis of the bridge. “At that point, we felt we had higher priorities,” he said. At the time, Former Mayor Anne-Marie Mastraccio and Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy agreed with Hill’s alternative suggestion to apply for available grant money to remove the bridge, restore the waterways, and create a fly fishing park in the area. Under questioning by Councilor Jonathan Martell, Hill said, “it should come out at some point. It’s a matter of timing and funding.”
While city leadership has suggested improving the turning angle at the northern end of S-Curve Road onto Route 109 for remaining residents, many in the community are dissatisfied. They argue the bridge is vital for local access and emergency response.
The post Residents: Repair and Reopen S-Curve Bridge appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
