News Release for July 14, 2008
Contact:  Mark Latti, MaineDOT Office of Communications - 624-3030
Brian Keezer, MaineDOT Region 1 Office - 215-8897

ROUTE 236 IN BERWICK TO CLOSE ON TUESDAY FOR RAIL REPAIRS

A portion of Route 236 in Berwick, just north of the boundary between Berwick and South Berwick, will be closed all day on Tuesday, July 15th so that emergency highway-rail grade-crossing repairs can be made to the railroad tracks where they cross the roadway. MaineDOT personnel will place barricades and erect signage to direct traffic on a local detour route while the repairs are performed.

Pan Am Railways officials contacted the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) on Friday to inform the department that during an inspection of the railroad tracks at this location, the company had observed a serious problem that needs to be repaired at the earliest opportunity. Pan Am determined that it will not be possible to maintain one-way traffic while the repairs are made, and that the roadway will need to be fully closed.

Route 236 in Berwick and South Berwick (Main Street) will be closed at this location from 9:00 a.m. until as late as midnight on Tuesday while the repairs are performed. MaineDOT traffic engineers have designated a detour route for Route 236 thru-traffic that includes Route 4, Blackberry Hill Road, and the Town Road which reconnects with Route 236 to the north, in Berwick.

Average daily traffic on Route 236 in this vicinity exceeds 6,000 cars per day. Town officials have been notified and will be updated immediately if there are any changes to the plans.

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