8236-R1_MSA_January2023

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the new bridge, the new Custom & Immigration Port of Entry, but the town is also working on trail access and connectivity to the new bridge. Planned in phases, the first phase of the connectivity trail project will commence in 2023 after much planning and engineering. A major milestone was reached mid-December when Reed & Reed, American Contractor for theMadawaska International Bridge Project erected the last 2 girders connecting the bridge to the US abutment. Greg Letourneau, who is overseeing this construction stated that the last 2 girders weighted in at 224,000 pounds, which completes a total of 7.2 million pounds of structural steel and 88,000 pounds of bolts that Reed & Reed construction crew installed and torqued. Bracing and decking will beginning shortly. Completion of the new bridge as well as the new Madawaska Port of Entry are slated for Fall of 2024. The last girder – The last structural girder, weighing in at over 100,000 lbs has been put into place on the US side of the new Madawaska International Bridge by Reed & Reed, Inc the contractor for this bridge, expected to open to traffic, pedestrians and recreational vehicles late 2024. Photo Courtesy of Reed & Reed, Inc.

A picture is worth millions – This photo shows the new Mad awaska Land Port of Entry in the foreground, and the new International Bridge connecting Edmundston, NB Canada to Madawaska. The old International Bridge will be removed once the new bridge is operational in late 2024. Also shown is Twin River’s Paper Company to the right and the Canadian National Trainway in Canada. The river is the St. John. Photo courtesy of Deschaine Digital

100 Year Old International Bridge – This photo was taken from the Canadian side to show the old International Bridge as it stands today and for the past 100 years connecting the Mad awaska – Edmundston ports of entry, and the new bridge being constructed to the right (connected to the Edmundston, New Brunswick Port of Entry). Photo courtesy of Deschaine Digital.

Merry and Bright… Mark couldn’t stand seeing the groomer sitting idle near the snowmobile trail so he decided to “light it up” and bring some joy to the passersby. It definitely makes you look twice and brings a smile to your face. This could be seen driving past the groomer garage on Depot Street in Buckfield.

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