WATERVILLE — The Ticonic Bridge spanning the Kennebec River between Waterville and Winslow will be closed completely to traffic and pedestrians the week of March 9-16. Cianbro Corp. of Pittsfield, which has the contract for the bridge, stated in a news release construction activities that week require access to the whole bridge.

Alternate routes include the Carter Memorial Bridge, which is south of the Ticonic Bridge, and the three bridges spanning the Kennebec between Fairfield and Benton, north of Waterville and Winslow.

Pedestrians may use the Two Cent Bridge just north of the Ticonic Bridge to cross the river between Waterville and Winslow as well as the Fairfield-Benton Fairfield bridges.

On March 16, westbound vehicle traffic will be prohibited from the Ticonic Bridge, according to the Cianbro release. The bridge will reopen to eastbound traffic at 6 a.m. and access to the bridge will be allowed during the westbound detour.

The state Department of Transportation is replacing the U.S. Route 201 bridge as part of a $60 million project expected to be completed May 2027. It is being replaced on alignment with a new, two-span steel girder with concrete bridge deck structure. Parts of the bridge were more than 100 years old when the work began in 2023.