News Release for September 24, 2008
For More Information: Mark Latti, Office of Communications - 207-624-3030
Tim Cusick, Highway Maintenance Superintendent - 885-7000

RIVERBANK AND SHOULDER SECTION OF ROUTE 136 COLLAPSES INTO ANDROSCOGGIN

MaineDOT crews are currently onsite assessing impacts from a river bank collapse along the Androscoggin River that damaged and forced the closure of Route 136 in Auburn near the Durham town line. Route 136 connects Auburn and the Freeport/I-295 area and approximately 4,000 vehicles travel this road each day.

Approximately 500 feet north of the Durham town line in Auburn, a section of the river bank between the Androscoggin River and Route 136 slid into the river. Part of the Route 136 northbound shoulder collapsed into the river, and the guardrail along the shoulder of the road now hangs in the air. This slide is approximately 120 feet in length along the river, and nearly 30 feet of the northbound Route 136 shoulder collapsed. MaineDOT was alerted to the slide a little after 4:00 this afternoon.

MaineDOT Crews have set up temporary detour around this section of Route 136 using the Jordan School Road, the Pownal Road and the Stackpole Road. Crews from MaineDOT will be onsite tomorrow to start construction on an additional travel lane alongside the western boundary of Route 136. This additional lane will replace the damaged lane along the river. If construction of this additional travel lane goes as planned, Route 136 could reopen as early as Friday evening.

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