Bow sues over bridge repairs.

The town of Bow has filed a lawsuit against three companies contracted to fix a bridge after serious flood damage closed it for nearly six months in 2006.

The project cost about $500,000 in total, most of which was offset by federal and state aid.

The town accuses the companies--Provan & Lorber Inc. of Contoocook, Gordon Construction Inc. of Bow and Maine-based Wright-Pierce Inc.--of negligence, misrepresentation and breaching contracts and warranties, among other charges. It's asking for compensation to cover damages to the bridge, repair costs, interest and attorney fees.

An independent engineering study conducted this year found defects in the bridge's design and" construction, including unstable retaining walls, leaking joints, erosion of side slopes, inadequate backfill and other significant defects, according to' the suit.