Jim Kastberg, job superintendent for Wyman and Simpson Inc. of Richmond, which is the company constructing the $1.3 million bridge in North New Portland, stands amidst the project. (Laura Dunham photo) NORTH NEW PORTLAND — Work is nearly complete on the new 108-foot-long by 36-foot-wide bridge that spans Gilman Stream in North New Portland.

The project superintendent, Jim Kastberg, said this week that construction workers were getting ready to put in the curbing and hope to have the bridge open sometime around the 16th of the month or the following week.

It’s been a long haul since the first of June for many local residents who have had to go miles out of their way just to get to the post office. It’s also been a difficult time for truckers and tour buses which have lost their way and traveled all the way into Highland Plantation trying to find their way up Route 16. So everyone traveling that route is looking forward to finally crossing the new bridge.

When completed, the bridge will be much wider and will have a super elevated structure to it with the road coming up some six feet, lowering the present hill. The original bridge was built in 1921 and has had only routine maintenance on it until now. The paving will be completed in the spring.

Town manager Stacie Rundlett said that State Representative Wright Pinkham had presented to the legislature a bill, which has been granted, to rename the current Bartlett Bridge, the Joshua Bernard Bridge in memory of the late Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard of North New Portland who lost his life in Afghanistan. A group of residents, said Rundlett, came to the town office making the request which Rundlett passed on to the Department of Transportation and then the Legislature for approval. Once the approval is obtained for the new name a dedication will be held, said Rundlett.