Louise Rossignol, left, and Dean Dumond, of Bowdoinham, photograph the Thunder Bay on the Kennebec River on Wednesday.

The Thunder Bay heads south on the Kennebec River after reaching the Maine Kennebec River Bridge on Wednesday. The Thunder Bay and three smaller cutters worked to break the ice south of the bridge between Richmond and Dresden.

The Thunder Bay heads north on the Kennebec River toward the Maine Kennebec River Bridge in Dresden on Wednesday. The Thunder Bay and three smaller cutters worked to break the ice south of the bridge between Richmond and Dresden.

Parked cars line the southern side of the bridge, as people watch Coast Guard cutters breaking ice on Wednesday from the Maine Kennebec River Bridge between Richmond and Dresden.

Dean Dumond, left, and Louise Rossignol, of Bowdoinham, wave to crew on the deck of the Thunder Bay on the Kennebec River on Wednesday.

The Thunder Bay, bottom left, heads south on the Kennebec River after reaching the Maine Kennebec River Bridge in Dresden on Wednesday. One of the smaller cutters on the mission is heading north at top right.