The future of a small one-lane bridge spanning Nequasset Brook in Woolwich will be left to voters at this year’s annual town meeting.

The bridge provides access from George Wright Road to a rented home owned by Matthew Richard and his wife. The dead end road fronting the brook also leads to property owned by the Bath Water District and town-owned land that once included a boat launch.

Chairman David King Sr. said voters would have two articles to consider: one to discontinue the bridge, another to begin raising funds for its repair and eventual replacement. A discussion of the bridge is planned at the select board’s March 19 meeting.

“If the town does the bridge repairs, the work will have to meet standards required by the state,” said King. If the bridge were privatized, Maine Department of Transportation standards won’t apply, he added.

Discontinuing the bridge comes with a cost, as well. King said it would require the town paying the Richards a one-time payment still to be determined. He estimated the amount at $38,000 to $48,000 based on an independent audit the town funded.

If voters reject discontinuing the bridge, they’ll be asked to appropriate monies for its repair and eventual replacement, King said. This amount hasn’t been finalized by the select board.

Located just down the road from the Woolwich town office, the bridge spans the brook close to where it spills over the dam. The small, steel-frame bridge was built in 1964 and is posted to a 12-ton limit.

“I own the home trapped on the wrong side of the bridge,” Richard told the Wiscasset Newspaper in a phone interview Monday. He said a few days after he closed on the property in October 2015, he learned town officials were considering a vote to discontinue the bridge.

Richard contacted a number of contractors about replacing the bridge; one gave an estimate between $260,000 to $290,000, roughly half of what it would cost the town because the new span wouldn’t have to be built to MDOT specifications. But Richard doubted he could replace the bridge for much under a half million dollars,  saying the estimate lacked an engineering plan. He’d also be responsible for maintenance of the road if voters approve its discontinuance.

Richard added, although the Bath Water District has indicated it doesn’t need access to maintain the dam, that could change. “Sometime in the future they might need to get heavy equipment onto my side of the brook and won’t be able to if the bridge is discontinued.”

The select board and Richard discussed constructing a road for providing access to the property off Barley Neck Road. However, no  town meeting article is planned for its consideration.

Because the bridge is town-owned, it’s inspected by the MDOT every two years. Carl Edwards carried out its most recent inspection in January 2017.

Edwards rated the bridge’s superstructure as being in “poor condition” with “advanced deterioration” and its substructure was in “serious condition,” its “primary structure affected.”

The bridge’s wooden decking was rated in “fair condition.” Some of its planks are cracked, “a few are crushed,” the report stated.

“Interior girders have complete paint loss throughout with minor surface rusting and flaking,” the repor continues. The condition of the bridge’s exterior girders are similar, Edwards adds. “Abutments have issues with settlement. Bridge seats have cracked and shifted, along with bearings. Stone portion has large voids, bulging, shifting, and cracking,” he writes.

The report states the bridge railing fails to meet MDOT traffic safety standards and guard railing is lacking at its approaches. No cost estimates are included.

Richard told the Wiscasswt Newspaper he’s put off making repairs to the house not knowing the fate of the bridge. He added, his biggest concern is keeping the bridge safe for heating oil deliveries and emergency and utility vehicles. If the bridge is turned over to him, he’ll be responsible should an accident occur on it.

“I’ve offered to sell the property to the town for what I’ve got invested in it. Doing that makes a lot of sense because if the town buys it, they can then do whatever they want with the property. The town owns 2.5 acres abutting my land,” he said.

Richard has hired an attorney and contacted District 23 Sen. Eloise Vitelli for her input. He said he’s lived in Woolwich 18 years.

“I love my neighbors and surroundings.  I invested in real estate here because I thought it was a safe investment. I’ve paid my fair share of property taxes,” he added.