Frank J. Wood Bridge
The Frank J. Wood Bridge, commonly called The Green Bridge, is a three-span steel and concrete bridge that crosses the Androscoggin River. It connects Topsham and Brunswick, Maine, and carries U.S. Route 201 and Route 24 Business. The bridge opened in 1932 and was renamed for Frank J. Wood, a local farmer who helped choose the location.
The bridge is about 815 feet long and 30.8 feet wide. It was built with tram rails, and although the great flood of 1936 damaged it, the bridge was rebuilt and kept in service. The tram tracks were paved over in 1944. Over the years, the deck and steel grid needed repairs, and the structure was updated in 1972 and again in 1985. A U.S. Route 1 bypass opened in 1997 to ease traffic on the bridge.
A new bridge to replace the Frank J. Wood Bridge has been planned because the old structure has become unsafe. The replacement project would cost around $49.9 million and is being built a little upriver near Pejepscot Falls. The new design will use four spans of steel and concrete and will include bicycle lanes, sidewalks, a viewing area, and parks on both sides.
The Frank J. Wood Bridge is considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, though the state has moved forward with the replacement. Construction and related legal work have involved several lawsuits since 2019, with various rulings between 2021 and 2024 about whether to replace the old bridge or rehabilitate it.
As of September 2025, the old bridge is open only for southbound traffic, while two-way traffic on the new bridge is expected to be finished by late 2025. The parks on both sides are planned for completion in early 2026. The replacement will be the eighth bridge at this site since 1796. Demolition of the Frank J. Wood Bridge is planned for October 2025, and there are plans to use steel from the old bridge in a public art project near the new structure.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:40 (CET).