On Friday afternoon, a dump truck crashed through the Babb’s Bridge.

On Friday, a dump truck crashed through the Babb’s Bridge, which crosses the Presumpscot River between Gorham and Windham. Courtesy of Gorham Police Department

The covered bridge crosses the Presumpscot River between Gorham and Windham. The truck crashed through the wooden planks into the river, according to Gorham police. There were no injuries.

The truck was overloaded and exceeded the posted weight limit of three tons, said Paul Merrill, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Transportation.

“It’s unfortunate, but it’s a prime example of why people need to be careful when they see a weight limit on a bridge. There’s a very good reason for it,” Merrill said.

A dispatcher said the road is currently closed and more information on the cause of the accident would be available later.

A dump truck exceeded the weight limit and crashed through the Babb’s Bridge on Friday. Courtesy of Gorham Police Department

The bridge, which connects Gorham’s Hurricane Road to Windham’s Covered Bridge Road, was originally built in 1840, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. It burned down in 1973 and reopened three years later after the department built a replica from locally sawn lumber.

DOTD bridge engineers will need to analyze the extent of the damage before deciding on repairs, Merrill said. He said the “best case scenario” would be to close the bridge for at least a few months to repair the bridge deck.

“We know it’s an important site, not only for the entire community but also for the state,” Merrill said. “We will evaluate the safety of the structure. There are many things to consider as we plan the next steps.”

This story will be updated.

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