Ninety percent of bridges and culverts on the roads in Maine that cross salt marshes and tidal waterways are not equipped to handle the ebb and flow of the tides. This results in higher road maintenance costs, a shortened lifespan for culverts and bridges, unplanned road closures that can put public well-being and safety at risk, and harm to commercial fisheries and important habitat. That’s why the Maine Coastal Program, along with thirty other organizations, have published “The CoastWise Approach: Achieving Ecological Resilience and Climate-Ready Road Crossings in Tidal Environments.”
The hundred-page manual, available as a free, downloadable document on the Maine Coastal Program’s website, offers detailed technical guidance on how to increase the safety of road crossings over Maine’s coastal wetlands and waterways.
“Safe, dependable roads are crucial for supporting Maine’s economy, access to critical services, and a way of life valued by citizens and visitors alike,” said Maine Coastal Program Director Kathleen Leyden. “The severity of today’s tidal restrictions is likely to worsen as sea levels rise and the volume of water flows increases over the coming decades.
“This free publication offers science-based best-practices to help road owners, municipal staff, engineers, and other people interested in helping to replace tidal road culverts and bridges with safe, climate-resilient crossings.”
CoastWise partners are currently developing initial training modules, and trainings are anticipated to be held in 2024.
For more information, contact Kathleen Leyden at Kathleen.leyden@maine.gov.
Read more here.