The Million Dollar Bridge, a drawbridge built in 1916, once carried Route 77 traffic over the Fore River, connecting Portland and South Portland. Although permits for its construction were issued by the Secretary of War in 1893, the bridge was not designed until 1914 and officially opened to traffic in 1916. Initially owned by Cumberland County, ownership was transferred to the Maine Department of Transportation in 1959.
In 1993, work began on a replacement—the Casco Bay Bridge. Positioned just east of the Million Dollar Bridge, the new structure was designed as a higher drawbridge. During its construction, the Million Dollar Bridge sustained damage when the Liberian tankship Julie N. collided with it on September 27, 1996, requiring emergency repairs. The Casco Bay Bridge was completed and opened to traffic in 1997.
