Barters Island residents were faced with frustration Sept. 24 as the bridge from the mainland was closed sometime after 1 p.m. The bridge reopened around 3:30 p.m., easing the lines of cars that waited for hours on either end.  

An electrical problem with the control panel caused the closure, according to Maine Department of Public Information Officer Paul Merrill. Merrill said electricians worked for several hours to temporarily fix the issue and move the bridge back in place. However, he said it was closed to marine traffic until around 3 p.m. Sept. 25.  

Merrill added, MaineDOT has ordered a new control panel, but there may be another temporary break in marine service during panel replacement. However, he said if the panel comes in after the seasonal closure, there will be no break in service.

At a Boothbay selectboard meeting Sept. 25, selectmen and the town manager expressed concern that a bridge closure reflects a safety issue if emergency vehicles or people cannot get on or off the island. They discussed writing a letter to MaineDOT asking about the validity of the bridge’s completion. The bridge opened in August 2021 after major renovations. As reported in the Register, the new bridge has been a point of concern in the past. 

“It’s all about public safety,” Steve Lewis said. “If you go about it from that angle, they have to address it.” 

In a Facebook post Monday, State Rep. Holly Stover said MaineDOT informed her “there was corrosion on some of the electrical components … which is what caused the Bridge to become inoperable."