- Babb’s Bridge in Maine has a hole in its floor after an overweight truck tried to cross.
- The Ford F-750, estimated at 30,000 lbs over the bridge’s weight limit, caused the damage.
- The driver sustained minor injuries, but repairs to the historic bridge will take time.
A historic covered bridge in Maine was dealt a significant blow when the driver of a loaded Ford F-750 decided to play fast and loose with the warning signs and attempted to cross. The wooden structure’s floor couldn’t handle the weight, giving way and creating a gaping hole. Local authorities were forced to close the bridge indefinitely.
The incident happened on Friday, August 23, at Babb’s Bridge, which spans the Presumpscot River and connects Gorham and Windham. As one of Maine’s oldest and few remaining covered bridges, Babb’s Bridge has seen a lot—though likely not quite as much as it did that day.
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A few seconds after its wheels touched the wooden floor, the truck fell through, plummeting into the river. The driver somehow escaped with only minor injuries, and fortunately, no one else was hurt in the fall. The heavy vehicle was later towed out with the help of a crane, revealing significant damage to its bodywork.
According to the Gorham Police Department, the Ford F-750 was loaded with crushed gravel. The Maine State Police told the Portland Press Herald that the driver was slapped with a $2,500 citation for driving a 36,000-pound truck across Babb’s Bridge—well over the wooden structure’s weight limit of 3 tons (6,613 pounds).
As The Drive points out, while the bridge itself doesn’t bother with weight limit signs—just a max clearance height for good measure—there are perfectly clear warnings on both ends of Hurricane Road. Feel free to check Google Maps if you need proof that reading signs is still a thing.
We don’t know why the driver ignored the signs about the permitted weight, as it was clear he was never going to make it across the bridge. The truck company offered to help with the cost of the repairs—which, unsurprisingly, aren’t going to be cheap.
The Babb’s Bridge in Gorham, Maine, was originally built in 1840. The current structure, however, is a replica constructed in the 1970s using historically-authentic techniques after the original was destroyed by vandals. It was reopened to traffic in 1976.
Following the recent incident, locals are determined to restore the bridge to its original condition, no matter the cost. It is estimated that the road will remain closed until spring, giving enough time to source period-correct lumber and repair the damaged structure. In the meantime, the roughly 360 drivers who used the bridge for their daily commute will have to find alternate routes.
