GARDINER -- Temporary bridges, one for each travel lane, will be in place by the end of the month, in time for the removal of the 100-year-old New Mills Bridge.

The old green "through-truss" bridge that carries Routes 9 and 126 over Cobbosseecontee Stream is on the Maine Department of Transportation's "bridge watch" list and was scheduled for replacement in 2010.

But, about a month ago, the Maine Department of Transportation limited loads on the bridge to 20,000 pounds after a routine inspection revealed significant deterioration of the bridge's floor system, City Manager Jeff Kobrock said.

The 20,000-pound limit allowed passenger cars, pickup trucks and light-duty delivery vehicles to use the bridge. Tractor trailers, fuel trucks, construction vehicles and large school buses are prohibited.

Kobrock said the old bridge will be removed between January and March 2009. Construction of a replacement will begin in March and is expected to be completed by December 2009.

The temporary bridges will be placed on old abutments just upstream of the current bridge.

For the duration of the project, there will be a detour that uses the first 100 feet of West Street. To prevent motorists from taking shortcuts to U.S. Route 201, the state will place signs restricting West and Cherry streets to local traffic.

Devin Anderson of the state Department of Transportation said the temporary bridge will be a "truss bridge" with pieces that can be stored and brought out and constructed quickly.

There will be two single-lane bridges side by side, and a separate pedestrian bridge.

Once those three bridges are installed, the existing bridge will be removed.

Heavy vehicles will be allowed on the temporary bridges, but not tractor trailers.

"It's just that the corners coming into the (temporary) bridge are too tight to get the long tractor trailers on and off it," Anderson said Monday.

The state awarded the contract for construction of the temporary bridge and removal of the existing bridge to CPM Constructors, of Freeport.

The new bridge will include a sidewalk and wider shoulders for bicyclists.

"That's the improvement that will benefit the town, especially where you have schools on both sides of the bridge," Anderson said.

Kobrock said the New Mills Bridge is a worthy gateway to Gardiner and that officials made a few suggestions to the state, including installing granite curbing instead of concrete, a railing that fits with the historic site, sidewalks and a bicycle lane.

Kobrock said the city gave significant attention to the development of the Cobbossee Corridor Master Plan, which includes that gateway.

The master plan, which is a guide to planning and implementing public infrastructure projects along the stream, was adopted in 2005.

"Although MDOT is focused upon the practical aspects of an emergency project of this scale, we have made several aesthetic suggestions that encompass the entire project area," Kobrock said. "This is an important gateway to the city and was given very significant attention."

"We're simply giving them the local perspective of this project and asking them to go through this initial design phase with these things in mind," he said. "Then, come back to us and discuss what ... is reasonable, what's practical and what the cost differences might be."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com