Officials lift weight restriction on Madawaska-Edmundston bridge

MADAWASKA, Maine — For the first time in seven years, large trucks can now cross the international bridge connecting Madawaska and Edmundston. Officials from both sides of the border said that the five-ton weight restriction is no longer in place.

Maine DOT spokesperson Damian Veilleux confirmed on Thursday morning that large trucks are crossing the bridge and that the weight limit has been lifted.

Jacob MacDonald, Communications Officer for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure in New Brunswick, also confirmed that the weight restriction is lifted.

“All legal loads entering both the United States and Canada will be permitted to cross the bridge,” MacDonald said on Wednesday afternoon.

The old bridge, which was built over 100 years ago, permanently closed on June 3 in preparation of the June 6 opening of the new bridge .

And though the new bridge has been open since early June, it temporarily carried the same five-ton weight limit. Maine DOT Spokesperson Paul Merrill said this was primarily due to overlapping construction areas.

Luke Reimer, Canadian Border Services Agency Spokesperson, said earlier this month that the Edmundston port of entry is one of Canada’s busiest land crossings .

The new bridge was awarded to Woolwich contractor Reed & Reed in 2021 for their low bid of $86.5 million. The entire bridge project, when factoring demolition costs, will be roughly $97.5 million.

The new bridge work took place concurrently with a new United States Land Port of Entry, estimated to cost roughly $65 million.

With the weight limit removed, large trucks over five tons can go to and from Canada via the Madawaska-Edmundston bridge. Prior to this, vehicles had to cross in either Fort Kent or Van Buren, two towns that are each roughly a half hour drive away from Madawaska.

Officials from both sides of the border on Aug. 15 will host a 10:30 am ribbon cutting event on the bridge. The event will include Maine DOT Commissioner Bruce A. Van Note and Chief Engineer Joyce Noel Taylor, according to Merrill.