Fri, 05/15/2020 - 1:45pm

Four of eight total stringers were brought to Southport from Vermont for the ongoing Thompson’s Bridge project. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

To maneuver through the roundabout, trucks had to pull off onto Common Drive to aim straight down Corey Lane. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

97 tons of concrete and steel. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

The second stringer arrives. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

Onlookers watch the stringers pull though Common Drive. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

The third and fourth stringers pull through Wiscasset. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

First span arrives on Southport. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Approaching Thompson Bridge prior to backing on to the trestle bridge. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

The all important traffic control guy! Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Backing up only the trestle bridge. JENNY BENNETT/Boothbay Register

The span arrives on the trestle bridge. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Preparing to attach the lifting straps. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Attaching the lifting straps. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Preparing to receive the span. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Waiting for the span to be craned down. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Lowering the span the critical last few inches. JENNY BENNETT/Boothbay Register

Four of eight total stringers were brought to Southport from Vermont for the ongoing Thompson’s Bridge project. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

To maneuver through the roundabout, trucks had to pull off onto Common Drive to aim straight down Corey Lane. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

97 tons of concrete and steel. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

The second stringer arrives. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

Onlookers watch the stringers pull though Common Drive. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

The third and fourth stringers pull through Wiscasset. JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

JOSEPH CHARPENTIER/Boothbay Register

First span arrives on Southport. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Approaching Thompson Bridge prior to backing on to the trestle bridge. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

The all important traffic control guy! Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Backing up only the trestle bridge. JENNY BENNETT/Boothbay Register

The span arrives on the trestle bridge. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Preparing to attach the lifting straps. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Attaching the lifting straps. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Preparing to receive the span. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Waiting for the span to be craned down. Eleanor Bennett Marshall photo

Lowering the span the critical last few inches. JENNY BENNETT/Boothbay Register

Parts arriving for the Thompson Bridge project required road closures from the Boothbay roundabout down Lakeside Drive to Southport May 14. The parts were the first of two shipments to Southport coming all the way from J.P. Carrera & Son of Middlebury, Vermont.

“They are 56 tons apiece. There will be four delivered today and four next Wednesday (May 20),” said Southport Selectman Gerry Gamage. “These are stringers for the span and they are 97 feet long.”

The trucks pulling the concrete and rebar stringers had a detached rear set of wheels, leaving some of the load overhanging the pavement. This made for an interesting maneuver through Common Drive, clockwise through the roundabout and onto Corey Lane.