The Maine Department of Transportation is leading an inspection of the bridge that suddenly collapsed in Old Town last week.

The effort is aimed at finding the cause of the failure of the new span during concrete placement of the new bridge deck.

It’ll include a forensic analysis of the span failure.

The inspection will require a closure next Wednesday of the temporary bridge that’s currently carrying traffic over the Stillwater River in Old Town.

(Maine Department of Transportation)

Other closures may take place as needed. Traffic will be rerouted along the established and previously used detour route.  Motorists should plan for additional travel time.

The Llewellyn Estes Bridges carry Stillwater Avenue over two channels of the river. MaineDOT is replacing the two bridges, which were under construction and not open to motorists at the time of the August 13 incident.

The inspection is also designed to make sure the area is safe for access and removal of debris from the collapse.

The evaluation will involve MaineDOT, bridge beam designer and fabricator Basalt Engineering International, general bridge contractor Reed & Reed, Inc., the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, and the Federal Highway Administration’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.