Two construction workers on the Wilson Street Bridge Replacement project fell 20 feet onto I-395 Monday.

The ramps from I-395 onto Wilson Street were closed Monday evening after an industrial accident that sent two members of a road crew to the hospital. Maine State Police, Brewer Police and Fire, and the Maine DOT responded to the accident that happened just before 3:30 Monday afternoon.

Maine State Police
Maine State Police
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State Police say 19-year-old Garrett Mulligan and 56-year-old Darren Pelletier were standing on a temporary wooden walkway on the overpass above the I-395 exit to Wilson Street. Officials say they were removing cross bracing that connected the outer bridge beam to the beam beside it when the outer bridge beam unexpectedly twisted, as the support was removed. It caused the platform they were standing on to shift, sending the support and the men 20 feet to the roadway below. The men landed on top of the walkway material and suffered injuries. They were taken to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. There's no word on how badly the men were hurt. Fortunately, there were no vehicles immediately below the accident site, so no one else was injured.

The Wilson Street project is part of a Maine Department of Transportation project to replace several interstate bridges. The contractor on the project is Wyman and Simpson, of Richmond, who employ the injured men.

Work on this project has been suspended, as the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigate the accident.

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