CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Maine Department of Transportation officials are working on design plans for temporary bridges to allow traffic to flow on Route 27, spokesman Mark Latti said Tuesday.

In addition, two permanent bridges would be constructed where they were washed out Sunday, he said.

“We hope to re-establish through traffic on Route 27 quickly, understanding the importance of this road to businesses and the community,” Latti said.

The bridges, one over Brackett Brook near Carrabassett Valley Academy and south of the Sugarloaf Access Road, and one north of the Access Road over the south branch of the Carrabassett River, were washed out during heavy rains Sunday from Tropical Storm Irene.

It was an extraordinary rain event that put out an incredible amount of water in a very short time, Latti said.

By all witness accounts, both the river and brook overflowed their banks and started going over the road and then washed out bridges, he said.

The span of the concrete arch bridge near CVA was 24 feet and the span of the concrete beam bridge with a concrete deck north of the Access Road was 39 feet, he said.

“We don’t know the cost to replace the bridges but we do know we’ll be eligible for federal funding,” Latti said. “One of the issues with cost is we want to install bridges as quickly as possible and that means working through weekends and holidays and that increases the cost of the bridges.”

“We’re interviewing companies that we know that have expertise for building temporary and permanent bridges and have the ability to accelerate the construction schedule,” he said. “We are working with the governor’s office and federal Highway Administration Office in order to expedite the contracting process so we can avoid delays associated with our regular contracting process.”

“People can get to Sugarloaf,” he said. “You can get to Route 27 by utilizing a series of private roads.”

Despite the damage, Sugarloaf has resumed all operations at the resort, Brad Larson, vice president of sales and marketing at Sugarloaf, stated in a release Tuesday. Sugarloaf Golf Club reopened nine holes Tuesday and it is expected all 18 holes will be open Wednesday.

Temporary routes have been set up to reach Sugarloaf. From the south, Route 27 is the road that should be used to get to the resort, Larsen said.

Just before arriving at the resort’s access road, at Town Line Road, a small detour has been created, he said. This new route is approximately one mile long and allows drivers to avoid the damaged bridge and get to the resort and all of its amenities.

Visitors with a destination north of Sugarloaf on Route 27 will need to follow the detour signs beginning in Kingfield, Larsen said. These directions will take travelers through Rangeley to Route 16, with the final destination of Route 27 in Stratton.

Questions on driving directions or resort operations can be answered by calling 800-THE-LOAF.

dperry@sunjournal.com