Portland - MaineDOT contractors will be painting bridges in the greater Portland area this summer for the next two to four months.
The first three bridges are the Deering Avenue Bridge over I-295 and the I-295 northbound and southbound bridges over Preble Street. The work involves removing the existing paint, and reapplying a new and improved paint system. To minimize impacts on traffic, most of this work will be performed overnight between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. at Deering Avenue, and between 7 p.m. and 7a.m. at Preble Street.
Depending on the weather, the painting process will last four to six weeks at each location. The loudest activity is the paint removal process, the duration of which will be approximately 10 nights, depending on the weather.
The process to remove the existing paint involves blasting the steel girders with high pressure steel grit. Unfortunately, this necessary process creates high noise and vibration levels. To minimize the noise, MaineDOT has required the contractor to partner with a professional acoustical noise control company to install special sound barriers around this equipment. This will reduce noise levels.
Depending on the location, area residents may hear and feel this noise and vibration. We apologize in advance for this inconvenience. Please know we are doing everything possible to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible.
Painting these bridges is not a cosmetic fix. Painting extends the life of these bridges that carry traffic through the Portland corridor.
For updates, please visit mainedot.gov.