I can’t find another way to say this. Some Einstein tried to drive an overloaded dump truck across Babb’s Bridge in Gorham, Maine (near Portland) yesterday. The bridge’s capacity is 3-tons as it is made of wood. The loaded truck weighed 18-tons.
Local Coverage: This-is-a-first-dump-truck-falls-through-covered-bridge-in-gorham
The truck plunged into the river below flipping on its top side. While Babb’s Bridge was the oldest covered bridge in Maine, the original bridge was destroyed in 1973 by vandals who set fire to it. The one we all know, and love, was rebuilt using historical methods and local timber. It reopened in 1976. The bridge is named for the local Babb family, which are part of the Lions of the Sea genetic lineage.
The bridge is closed for the next several months while they assess the damage and work to restore it for traffic again. A DOT official explained that the weight rating has been posted outside of the bridge for 40 years.
Babb’s Bridge was on the tour during the 2011 Babb Family Association Reunion, and we were featured standing in front of it in an area newspaper for their 4th of July Issue.
3 responses to “Babb’s Bridge Catches a Break”
What knuckleheads! Don’t think I’ll hire “The Driveway Guys”… the Irish part of my heritage says, EEJITS!
I had to look that up. I’ve heard it before but never seen it written out.
I was just there a little over a week ago. Glad I got to see it before the damage. Hope they make them pay to fix it.