Chesterfield Associates Inc., the Westport Island marine construction contractor selected by Boothbay Harbor to make temporary repairs to the harbor’s footbridge, arrived on site, on time, Dec. 5, to begin the Phase I work.

“It should take about three weeks,” said Davies Allan, president of Chesterfield Associates, from the wheelhouse of the company's Craft 28-foot landing craft, Elsie. Allan designed Elsie and she was built in New Hampshire.

The Chesterfield crew, which consists of Lucinda Tillis, Zoe Cioffi, Zack Stanton and Allan, was busy replacing rotting diagonal bracing on Wednesday, Dec. 7. “We're also going to strengthen the swing span,” Allan said. The crew works from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., tide- and weather-dependent. “If we have to be outside, this is a nice part of the harbor to work in,” Allan said.

When Chesterfield finishes the temporary repairs, people will be able to cross the bridge under a weight limit restriction. Town Manager Tom Woodin is waiting for designs for the Phase II, permanent repairs. As soon as they are received, they will go out to bid, he said. “It's my wish to have it all completed by late spring,” he said, adding that, when the time comes, the whole swing span can be removed and repaired off site.