Almost exactly two year ago, I moved to Hampden. Generally speaking, I absolutely love it. Granted, the snow plow hardly ever seems to find us on outer Kennebec Road, while the rest of the town somehow seemingly gets to enjoy much clearer roads, but other than that one gripe, we really love it out where we are.

But if there's one thing Hampdenites know, or commuters from Winterport, Frankfort, Belfast, etc.... There's only a few direct routes in and out of town. And for the last god-knows-how-long, the Grist Mill Bridge, on what locals call Waterworks Hill, has been getting a major overhaul/replacement.

There's no question it needed to be replaced. The bridge hasn't had any major reconstruction since the 50's. But, as soon as the work started, the seriousness of the impact it had on the morning commute was tremendous. Granted, as detours go, the one for the bridge has been relatively painless.

Still, you know the old saying..... You don't know what you got til it's gone. But, instead, the bridge is finally coming back! According to Fox ABC Maine, the bridge will reopen in January. It was originally supposed to open this past fall, but COVID, manpower shortages, and other delays kept it from happening on time.

But the hope is, by December 18th, all the concrete should be poured, and the bridge will once again have cars going across it shortly after the new year. Honestly, I never thought I'd be so happy to see a 50-foot bridge open up. I'm' tired of taking the same way in or out of town every day!

So fellow Hampden/Waldo County commuters.... Just a little while longer to wait, but finally, we will have our beloved bridge back. Now if we could just do something about the snow plow finding our part of town......

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