Portland, ME ? MaineDOT officials announced today that work is about to begin on a series of improvement projects totaling $8.4 million for I-295 in the greater Portland area. Paving and bridgework will be done in the northbound lanes between the Portland-Falmouth line and Freeport. Guardrail maintenance and improvements will also be done in the median along that same stretch of I-295. The majority of work is planned to occur overnight, but some daytime lane closures will occur.
Bradford Foley, Highway Program Manager for MaineDOT described the work planned for I-295, ?We will be doing overnight paving on the northbound lanes beginning near the Portland-Falmouth line and on up to Freeport. We?ll be doing ?mill and fill? ? meaning that existing pavement will be ground up, re-used and approximately 4 inches of new pavement will be laid. The large majority of our paving will occur overnight in order to minimize impacts on traffic. As a result, single-lane closures will occur northbound Sunday through Thursday, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.? Foley continued, ?Bridge and guardrail work will also be done, including work on the Royal River Bridge in Yarmouth and installation of new cable guardrail systems.
Although lane closures for paving are planned for overnight hours, work on the Royal River Bridge will require day and night lane closures on weekends. Mr. Foley said, ?We will be working on weekends on the Royal River Bridge from 9 p.m. Friday night until noon on Monday. We?ll set up work behind barriers and have one lane closed straight through the weekend.?
Mr. Foley stated that the northbound work on I-295 has been awarded to Pike Industries. The $8.4 million in highway, bridge and guardrail improvements are funded from MaineDOT?s Interstate Maintenance Fund which is supported in part by Federal Highway Administration dollars. No stimulus funds are being used for these improvements.
?The result of these projects will be safer, smoother highways with improved guardrail systems and a renewed lifespan of reliable use for everyone,? said Jonathan McDade of the Federal Highway Administration. He added, ?This work illustrates Maine?s ongoing commitment to addressing the priorities of maintaining and improving our national transportation infrastructure, and specifically this critical interstate highway.?
Numerous construction signs and messages on variable message signs along I-295 northbound lanes in the greater Portland area will provide information to motorists, as will a communications campaign being kicked off by MaineDOT. ?We?re committed to providing the public with as much information as we can so they can plan accordingly, and leave extra time for traveling through construction areas. It?s really important for people to be aware of Work Zones, and to slow down and pay attention to their driving,? said Foley.
Information on the Greater Portland Area Interstate Improvements for I-295 including project maps, sign-up for email alerts and more is available online at MaineDOT.gov.
To view a map of the project area, please visit the project's web site