West end of Town Center Trail Closed -- Willow Brook Culvert Replacement underway

Trail users should avoid the portion of the Town Center Trail that extends from Starboard Drive east to the intersection with the Spurwink Bridge and Boardwalk connector during the Willow Brook culvert replacement project.  Construction starts July 14, 2022 and is estimated to be completed by November 1.

The Willow Brook culverts are the number one priority for replacement, identified in the 2019 Cape Elizabeth Culvert and Habitat Assessment Report.  The dual corrugated metal culverts are deteriorated, and restricting tidal flows which impacts the adjacent habitat.  Two large diameter sewer lines, a gravity sewer line that carries wastewater to the sewer treatment plant and a force main that carries treated water, sit above the culverts.  If the culverts fail and the sewer lines rupture, discharge into the Spurwink Marsh would have serious environment impacts.

The culverts will be replaced with a concrete box culvert with an open bottom intended to allow tidal flows to move freely and make the infrastructure climate resilient.  Funding for the project was obtained through a grant award from the Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program, which includes five years of environmental monitoring post construction.

Construction will be performed by Shaw Brothers, coordinating with the Portland Water District and Sebago Technics, Inc. in the role of town engineer.  The area will be a significant construction site and trail users should completely avoid the area during construction.  Estimated completion is November 1, 2022.