Rockport Goose River bridge replacement targets 2027 work
MaineDOT’s Rockport bridge plan targets 2027 work, with a full closure, preferred detour, new sidewalks and estimated funding of $6.1 million.
Rockport has a clearer planning timeline for replacing the Goose River Bridge on Pascal Avenue, but construction has not begun and the schedule is not final. MaineDOT’s 2026–2028 work plan lists the project for 2027 with estimated funding of $6.1 million.
The project is Rockport Bridge No. 2724, which crosses the Goose River 0.03 mile north of High Street. MaineDOT held a formal public-comment period from April 8 through April 29, 2026, as part of the project’s planning and design process.
What the preliminary design calls for
The preliminary design calls for a replacement bridge with two 11-foot travel lanes, one-foot shoulders and a 5½-foot sidewalk on each side. It also includes ornamental lighting and a color-galvanized steel bridge railing.
The design report says the existing bridge has a poor-condition concrete deck, a deteriorating substructure and a bridge rail that does not meet current crash standards. The bridge is used by pedestrians and bicyclists and connects residential areas with downtown Rockport, waterfront activity and local parks.
Full closure and a preliminary detour plan
If the current plan proceeds, the bridge would be fully closed during construction. The preliminary design report evaluates several detour options and identifies a preferred route through Main Street, Commercial Street, also known as Route 1, West Street and Pascal Avenue.
The report says the bridge carries about 4,880 vehicles per day, including 4% truck traffic. It also identifies access to Rockport Marine Park, harbor activity and local businesses as factors in choosing the traffic plan. The preferred detour would require coordination between the town and MaineDOT, including a municipal-state agreement for use of West Street.
The preliminary report describes one construction season, followed by approach paving and landscaping the following spring. It lists April 2027 as an advertising milestone. Separate MaineDOT project materials identify a fall 2027 construction-advertisement milestone. Those dates are planning targets, not confirmation that construction will begin or finish on a specific date.
Bridge work is tied to pedestrian and downtown planning
The bridge project is being coordinated with Rockport’s Village Partnership Initiative. The preliminary design says the upstream sidewalk would be maintained and a second sidewalk added on the downstream side, consistent with pedestrian-connectivity work identified through the initiative’s transportation infrastructure planning.
The $6.1 million figure is listed as estimated funding in MaineDOT’s Rockport work plan. The preliminary design report shows the same total for the project’s available funding, while also identifying a lower preliminary estimated project cost. Final design, contracting, traffic-control details and schedule confirmation remain important next steps for residents, businesses, pedestrians and commuters.
Sources
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