 While MaineDOT estimated that 70% of the ice had fallen by that afternoon, it was feared that reopening the bridge would shake more ice onto the bridge deck.MaineDOT also ruled out sending crews onto the bridge cables to remove the ice as too dangerous but by the following day they were considering bringing in heavy equipment to knock ice off the cables.The bridge reopened on December 30, 2013 after being closed just one day but closed again January 5, 2014 for at least another day,
"in anticipation that the ice would melt as temperatures moderated for the first time in days."