Calderwood Engineering Etc

06/22/2026

Powers road bridge almost finished!

05/27/2026

In Maine, a visit to the historic New Portland Wire Bridge offers a look at a true engineering marvel. Spanning 198 feet across the scenic Carrabassett River, this remarkable suspension bridge is the last survivor of four similar structures built in the state during the 19th century. Even more impressive, it is widely considered the only remaining historic suspension bridge with covered wooden towers in the entire United States.

Construction on this hidden gem began in 1864 and wrapped up in 1866 under the design of locals David Elder and Captain Charles B. Clark. Early settlers worried that standard wooden bridges would not survive the river's swift, powerful high waters, so they opted for a flexible suspension design. The iconic towers are built from massive timber framing and completely covered in cedar shingles, giving them a rustic look that resembles a traditional New England covered bridge. Remarkably, the core tower framing timbers and the main support cables holding up the bridge are the exact originals from the 1860s.

The atmosphere around the bridge is quiet, peaceful, and deeply nostalgic. It sits in a lush country setting where visitors love to picnic, fish, or dip their toes into the cool river water. The site is also a favorite final stop for paddlers completing a whitewater trip down the river. Today, the bridge remains open to light, single-lane traffic with a strict three-ton weight limit. Walking or driving across it is a memorable experience, as you can feel the old wooden planks gently bend and sway beneath you. It stands as a beautiful, living monument to American craftsmanship that has successfully stood the test of time.

05/24/2026

One of Maine’s most spectacular and unique engineering marvels, the Bailey Island Bridge...affectionately known as the Cribstone Bridge...is a historic wonder unlike any other structure on Earth. Located in the town of Harpswell, this legendary 1,150-foot-long highway crossing connects Orr’s Island to Bailey Island and stands proudly as the only known granite cribstone bridge in existence.

The highlight of this landmark is its mind-boggling architectural design. Instead of using standard concrete pillars or steel suspension cables, the entire foundation of the bridge is built out of roughly 10,000 tons of solid, locally quarried granite slabs. Builders stacked these massive rectangular stones entirely by hand in a clever, open-latticed, crisscross fashion. Amazingly, the structure is held together by gravity alone, without a single drop of mortar, glue, or cement locking the blocks in place. This unique design was a brilliant solution to a difficult problem. The narrow channel it crosses, known as Will's Gut, is notorious for fierce ocean tides, winter ice floes, and powerful waves. By leaving the stone foundation completely open like a giant jigsaw puzzle, the raging ocean tides and currents can safely ebb and flow straight through the gaps without putting stress on the bridge.

The history of the crossing goes back to the early 1920s. For decades, the hardy local fishermen of Bailey Island had to brave the rough open waters in small boats just to reach the mainland. When the state finally agreed to build a connection, engineer Llewelyn Edwards came up with this clever dry-stone blueprint. Construction began in 1927, and the bridge officially opened to horse-drawn carriages and vehicles in 1928. Today, it is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, topped with a smooth asphalt road that allows visitors to cruise safely over the water while enjoying sweeping panoramic views of Casco Bay!

05/07/2026

We are excited to announce that Tanner Hennin returning to us shortly, Cade Tooker and Christina Shaver starting with us full time shortly!

04/23/2026

Bridge deck ready to place! A lot of work goes into this.

04/17/2026

04/17/2026

Egypt road in Presque Isle Maine

04/09/2026