This fall 2021 photo shows where a 336-foot multi-use bridge over the Sandy River in Farmington is to be built. Franklin Journal file photo

FARMINGTON — Brent West, executive director for High Peaks Alliance shared news about the proposed Rail Trail Bridge with selectmen at the July 23 board meeting.

It took a lot of Sen. Susan Collins’ staff time to straighten out issues with the federal funding, West said. The Franklin Journal reported in January 2019 that the alliance was awarded $2.041 million through the federal Fiscal Year 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill to rebuild the multi-use bridge over the Sandy River.

A year ago selectmen unanimously approved appropriating $200,000 in future funds to complete match requirements. Those funds could come from the Downtown TIF Account or an alternative source of funding, it was noted then. In September 2021, Farmington selectmen approved using $5,000 from the Rail Trail Bridge Reserve Account to go towards a pre-engineering report for rebuilding the bridge.

A grant agreement was signed the beginning of this year, West said. “The state has put out a request for qualifications for the final engineering and permitting,” he noted. “Right now we are going back and forth on the scope of work for that.”

Complying with National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] is the first step in the process, figuring out if the project will impact wetlands, the river, West said. Signed into law in 1970, NEPA requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions, the website notes.

A Farmington site plan review will probably be needed, West said.

“We are hoping through the end of this year we will get through final engineering and all the permitting then next spring put it out to bid for construction,” he noted. Preliminary cost estimates were a lot smaller, other design elements are being considered to take into account recent flooding, West stated.

The total available for the project is $2.97 million, which includes about a 26% buffer, he said. If needed, West hoped more money could be approved from Farmington sources. “I feel real good that we have leveraged this so much,” he noted. “Everything is the same, we are just working through the process of doing it.”

A new bridge design is being looked into due to the amount of sand found on either side of the river, West said. It is a tied arch bridge, there is one in Norridgewock, he noted.

“Federal funding is good through 2031,” West said. “The biggest issue will be unanticipated costs because of the timeline.”

West has been working on the bridge project for almost three years, there were at least three attempts before that, he stated.

American Rescue Plan Act funds from the county were not included because the county was figuring out details for a new building and by the time that was resolved necessary funding was secured, West responded to a question from Selectman Richard Morton.

“Is High Peaks working on trail access on each side,” Chair Joshua Bell asked.

“Part of the grant will pay for resurfacing and aggregate surfacing from the grates at Big Sky Grill across to the road in West Farmington [Bridge Street],” West replied. “From there the state already owns the wedge shaped piece in the West Farmington Post Office parking lot.”

Four-wheelers will have to stop at that point because the easement on that side of the river was never granted and Farmington doesn’t have an ATV club, West indicated. The bridge is being engineered so that the issue can be resolved later if there is interest, he noted.

Shiretown Riders Snowmobile Club expects the bridge will bring more traffic to Farmington, West said. He has met with the water district which would like to see more thoughts on where snowmobilers would have to go as the bridge gets built. West noted restaurants were closed at 4 p.m. last winter, thinks that will change with bridge accessibility.

“Farmington is the only place where I have seen nurses commute to work on four-wheelers and snowmobiles,” West added.