Collins secures $7.2M for Dover Bridge, $1M for mammograms through C.A. Dean

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that she successfully secured more than $200 million for 105 Maine projects located across the state in the final Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill. Of that amount, 37 of the projects totaling $99,307,710 were funded through the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, which Collins co-authored as the Ranking Member.

The omnibus funding package passed the House and the Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Locally the Maine Department of Transportation is the recipient of $7.2 million for the replacement of Dover Bridge #5118. The funds will be used to replace a 91-year-old bridge that carries more than 2,000 cars per day over the Piscataquis River.

“Dover Bridge is one of the two major bridges in Dover-Foxcroft and has served as a critical crossing of the Piscataquis River for nearly a century,” said Collins. “More than 2,000 cars rely on this bridge every day, and its replacement is urgently needed to ensure that residents of Dover-Foxcroft and the surrounding communities can continue to conveniently access jobs and homes on both sides of the river.  As the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, my priority is to improve our nation’s infrastructure and ensure Maine’s needs are addressed.”

Dover Bridge first opened to traffic in 1930 and carries Essex Street over the Piscataquis River.  The Maine Department of Transportation will use this funding to replace the 91-year-old bridge.

Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital in Greenville will receive $1,027,000 for the Northern Light C.A. Dean Hospital Rural Mobile Mammography Project. Funds will create a rural mobile mammography service that can serve rural regions of Maine that lack mammography programs.

“Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among American women, and nearly 90 percent of cases are metastatic breast cancer,” said Collins.  “This critical funding will ensure patients living in rural communities can receive the quality care and support they deserve. I strongly advocated for this investment to help prevent, detect, and treat all forms of breast cancer.”

“Mammography is a critical service for our rural region,” said Marie Vienneau, president of Northern Light CA Dean Hospital and Northern Light Mayo Hospital, and senior vice president, Northern Light Health. “Traveling mammography services would allow us to reach all of the rural areas in our region providing local and timely access to this service.  We are grateful to Sen. Collins for recognizing that need and including us in this package.”

Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital will use this funding Collins secured to purchase a mobile van and mammography equipment. The rural mobile mammography van will travel to rural locations in Piscataquis and Somerset counties, providing local access to mammography services.

The 105 requests submitted by Collins will support projects by Maine’s state government, municipalities, and nonprofits that will promote job creation and economic development, improve infrastructure, expand community resources for Mainers, and protect our environment. 

“As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I have long championed investments that support Maine’s communities and families,” said Collins. “I heard from local officials about how these projects will enhance the wellbeing of Mainers and improve the delivery of town services from Aroostook County to York County. Throughout the Appropriations process, I strongly advocated for these projects, which will deliver substantial benefits to our state and the people of Maine.”