Work has begun on the Thompsons Bridge rebuild project on Southport. The span at the bridge’s east end has been removed and a crew is rebuilding the abutment there.

Maine Department of Transportation’s on-site manager, Glenn Philbrook, said the decision on how to replace the bridge has been made. A work trestle will be built in Deckers Cove to support a crane and then the bridge will be removed and a new one built there. While everything is being done to keep the project moving as planned, a three-week delay caused by staffing issues may have an effect, Philbrook said.

MDOT’s schedule has the crane trestle being set up early next year. Then comes work on the west-end abutment and then the piles will go in. The new steel spans should start to go up in April.