News Release for August 15, 2007

Contact: Mike Eldridge, 624 - 8225

WORK ON PALERMO BRIDGE BEGINS NEXT WEEK

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) says work is scheduled to begin the week of August 20th on Russ Bridge, adjacent to the fish hatchery on the Gore Road in Palermo.

“We need to replace the deteriorated wearing surface, or top layer of the bridge deck,” explains Mike Eldridge, Regional Bridge Manager for MaineDOT’s Region Two Office, where the work is being coordinated.  “The existing wearing surface has deteriorated to the point it no longer protects the underlying bridge deck from water and weather.  It needs to be replaced to protect our investment in the bridge deck and to provide a smoother ride for drivers crossing the bridge.”

Eldridge says that crews will also repair the stone riprap used to protect the bridge substructure from scour by moving water and do some touch-up painting on the structural steel on the bridge.  “We need to replace the wearing surface and it just makes good sense to take care of these other items while we’re there,” he explained.

“Because of the equipment, materials and procedure used to replace the wearing surface, we’ll need to restrict the bridge to one lane for the duration of the project. Our traffic engineers have looked at the work area and determined that adequate traffic control can be maintained using ‘Stop’ and ‘Proceed When Clear’ signs on the roadway approaches to the bridge,” Eldridge explained.  “Drivers should slow down as they approach the bridge, with the expectation that there may be another vehicle already on the bridge and they will need to stop before making their own crossing.”

Eldridge says once work starts next week, he anticipates it will take about six weeks to complete the work.  But he cautions that the work is weather dependent and that adjustments to the schedule may be needed depending on the amount of inclement weather in late August and in September.  “We want to get in, get the work done, and get out as quickly as we can, but some parts of the work require good weather and we can’t control that,” he concluded.

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