Deer Isle-Stonington and surrounding communities will celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the Deer Isle-Sedgwick Bridge on Sunday, June 16 from 1 – 3 p.m. The festivities will include a one-hour closure of the bridge from 1 – 2 p.m., as well as a celebration of the Bridge and its history, with an exploration of its future, at Bridge End Park on Little Deer Isle with music, food, and other activities.

On June 19, 1939, Maine Governor Lewis O. Barrows cut the ribbon to open the long awaited and hard fought for Deer Isle-Sedgwick Bridge. Learn some of the bridge’s history from speakers at Bridge End Park, including the full story of the community’s six-years of work to get the bridge built and current public safety needs as the bridge ages in the face of increasingly severe winds due to the warming climate.

Thanks to the Maine Department of Transportation, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Deer Isle, Stonington, and Sedgwick Fire Departments, citizens will be able to Walk the Bridge between 1 and 2 p.m. Traffic will be stopped on the Sedgwick side of the bridge, and before the Chamber of Commerce information booth on Little Deer Isle.

Those wishing to participate in the Bridge Walk should park in specially marked areas on either side of the bridge and arrive no later than 12:45 p.m. The Bridge will be closed and the Walk will start promptly at 1 p.m. with the bridge reopening at 2 p.m. Walkers do not have to pre-register. No walkers will be allowed to start later than 12:30 p.m. No bikes or wheeled vehicles of any sort, other than baby strollers, are allowed. Dress for fun, but no banners or floats, please. Volunteer marshalls are being sought and will work with the Sheriff’s office and Deer Isle Fire Department to ensure the safety of all participants, including the passage of emergency vehicles if necessary.

Parking on the Deer Isle side of the bridge will be at the Chamber of Commerce information booth and along Eggemoggin Road on Little Deer Isle. THERE WILL BE LIMITED PARKING ALONG ONE SIDE OF ROUTE 15 ONLY. Please follow signs and the directions of the fire departments. For more information on the Bridge Walk, please contact either the Deer Isle or Stonington Town office.

Thanks to the Deer Isle-Stonington School District, a school bus will begin shuttling walkers to their cars when the bridge reopens promptly at 2 p.m. and will continue until the end of the day’s festivities at 3 p.m.

The Bridge Walk will continue even if it rains. Please dress appropriately. In case of rain, other activities at Bridge End Park may be canceled. Check the Towns’ Facebook pages for up to the minute details.

The Bridge 85th Anniversary Celebration has been organized by the Towns of Deer Isle and Stonington to highlight the very special nature of this bridge; its age; and the island communities’ future needs. For additional information please contact Linda Nelson, Town of Stonington Economic & Community Development Director, at 217-7364 or econdev@stoningtonmaine.org.