Opening of new international bridge: transition period June 3-6

May 29, 2024

The new Edmundston-Madawaska bridge is scheduled to open to traffic on Thursday, June 6th, at 1 p.m., according to the MaineDOT. Construction will still be active on the bridge and at the Canadian Port of Entry. Vehicles that weigh more than 5 tons will not be able to use the new bridge until that construction is over.

The old bridge will be permanently closed to vehicle traffic starting on Monday, June 3rd. This means that both bridges are scheduled to be closed to vehicle traffic from June 3rd until June 6th. Drivers will be able to use the next closest border crossings located in Fort Kent and Van Buren. The old bridge will remain open to pedestrians between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. AST and 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. AST until the new bridge is open.

During bridge construction, the US General Services Administration (GSA) has been constructing a new land port of entry on the U.S. side of the international border. That project is nearing completion.

As is the case with all outdoor construction, this schedule may change because of the weather.

The new bridge has been built on a new alignment, crossing the St. John River approximately 1,400 feet upstream from the old bridge on the U.S. side and tying into the existing Edmundston port facility on the Canadian side. The new bridge features wider travel lanes and added shoulders on both sides. There is a raised sidewalk on the downstream side of the new bridge. The new bridge is designed to last 100 years. On-site bridge construction started in 2021. All work associated with the bridge project is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

The bridge construction project is a collaborative effort involving both MaineDOT and the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI). The construction contract is approximately $86.5 million. The total project cost is approximately $97.5 million. In 2019, this project received a $36-million Infrastructure for Rebuilding American (INFRA) grant from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. The remaining costs are being shared by MaineDOT and NBDTI.

During bridge construction, the GSA has been constructing a new land port of entry on the U.S. side of the international border. That project is nearing completion. MaineDOT, NBDTI, GSA, CBSA, as well as the City of Edmundston and the Town of Madawaska are planning an event later this year to celebrate these projects.

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CONTACT: NBDTI, Project Management Office, 506.230.0267