Starting Sunday, May 15, construction crews are set to begin work on the Freeport to Brunswick I-295 project, a repaving project between Exits 20 and 28 on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the interstate.
In the upcoming week, motorists traveling northbound will notice crews working on culverts and improving drainage along the shoulders of the road. Once work is completed on the northbound side, crews will then complete the same work on the southbound side.
Crews will be working nights during the entire project, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Saturday. After the initial drainage work is completed, crews will start removing the existing deteriorating pavement and repaving. Crews will also lengthen the on- and off-ramps at Exits 22 and 24. Ramps will close periodically; however, one lane will always remain open at the southbound on-ramp at Exit 28 from Route 1 in Brunswick.
Crews will remove the existing pavement by milling, and traffic may be traveling on grooved pavement and uneven lanes. Motorcyclists are asked to use caution.
There also will be nighttime closures at Exit 17on I-295 northbound in Yarmouth in the coming week. The Exit 17 northbound on-ramp will be closed from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., Sunday through Tuesday. The Exit 17 northbound off-ramp will be closed from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., Monday through Wednesday. Motorists who utilize Exit 17 on I-295 Northbound are advised to use Exit 20 and Exit 15 to access Route 1.
Elsewhere on I-295, the southbound on-ramp from Park Avenue in Portland will be closed until work on nearby bridges has been completed. Motorists who use this on-ramp should continue on Park Avenue, turn left at the next traffic signal onto the Fore River Parkway, continue straight through the next traffic signal, then turn right to access I-295 southbound.
On Thursday night, May 19, crews will begin separating Washington Avenue from I-295 northbound by placing concrete barriers from the Washington Avenue on-ramp, over Tukeys Bridge, to the Washington Avenue off-ramp. The right-hand side of Tukeys Bridge will then remain Washington Avenue, but it will become a local-through road that does not have access to I-295. Motorists will still be able to travel on Washington Avenue from the Munjoy Hill area over Tukeys Bridge to the East Deering area and beyond.
Drivers are advised to pay close attention to signage connected with the repair work especially signs indicating reduced speed zones. For more information and to sign up for email alerts, please go to mainedot.gov.
This effort is part of a substantial I-295 repair and improvement project that will be ongoing through the fall of this year. Roadway and bridge repair work has been structured to minimize the impact on motorists while improving the safety and enjoyment of traveling one of Maine?s most popular highways.
MaineDOT appreciates the patience of all motorists during this construction.