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Home >Project Fact Sheet

Project Fact Sheet

  • The lanes of I-295 Northbound (17 miles) from Topsham to Gardiner were closed on June 16 for a complete rehabilitation of the road. The roadway rehabilitation should last 20+ years.
  • The entire project spanned 23.8 miles and included the replacement of 60,000 feet of guardrail and the rehabilitation of six bridges.
  • The total cost of the project is approximately $35.5 -million, 100% funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
  • Decision to completely close the highway allowed multiple crews to work safely without traffic at multiple locations. This was also a safer option for motorists since they would not be distracted by multiple work zones along a major highway.
  • Alternate routes were well marked by MaineDOT traffic engineers to encourage commercial vehicles, and other motorists bound for Portland and points south, to use the Maine Turnpike while local traffic was encouraged to use Route 201. Cameras were in place along Route 201 and I-295 to allow the public to monitor traffic congestion via www.mainedot.gov.
  • The full-closure aspect of the project finished almost three weeks ahead of schedule despite one of the rainiest construction seasons on record.
    o Jet dryers were continually utilized to help dry the road. This is the first time a Pike project has utilized two jet dryers at a time.
  • Additional work will continue through September, and will involve installation of guardrails, ramps, and the loaming and seeding of the temporary crossovers. The temporary Route 201 on-ramp to I-295 Southbound in Topsham will also be removed. This additional work may necessitate partial ramp closures at night and sporadic lane closures during the day.

PUBLIC INFORMATION

  • An aggressive public information campaign was conducted by MaineDOT to ensure the public was aware of the project and alternate routes.
    o Major mapping sites such as Mapquest indicated the detours and directed people to the MaineDOT site.
    • A targeted communications campaign was launched to reach local commuters and out-of-state visitors via the web.
  • MaineDOT kept in contact with municipal officials, first responders, law enforcement, tourism representatives, businesses and legislators during the planning and execution phase of this project.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

  • By Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates, this project contributed $120 million to Maine's economy.
  • According to the nationally recognized FHWA multiplier, the project impacted over 945 individuals in the form of employment with over 90% of the work being done by Maine-based companies including Pike Industries, Cianbro and Main Line Fence.

INNOVATION

  • A temporary asphalt plant located directly adjacent to I-295 in Richmond helped to reduce fuel use and minimize truck travel. Pike estimates it reduced truck traffic from the Summerhaven plant by 20% of what it was last year.
  • The plant supplied about 67K tons of hot mix asphalt for the project – 33% of total project hot mix and 50% of full closure hot mix.
  • The project utilized echelon paving, which eliminates a centerline joint and helps prevent cracking. This was only possible with a full closure since it requires two pavers working side by side across the entire highway.

INTERESTING FACTS:

  • Concrete removed: 55,000 tons or 110 million pounds.
  • Bituminous Pavement removed (from old paved shoulders): 25,000 tons or 50 million pounds
  • The above will be 100% recycled. The concrete became shoulder base gravel and the pavement became new Hot Mix Asphalt (not necessarily all on this project, however)
  • The project used 200,000 tons of new Hot Mix Asphalt and the pavement is 8" thick.


This page last updated on 8/25/09