Construction crews are set to begin work this Friday, September 17 on a plan to retrieve the crane and stabilize part of the Androscoggin riverbank along Route 136 at the Auburn/Durham town line. The crane slid down the riverbank when the slope collapsed on September 2. MaineDOT will also post signage directing motorists to a new, shorter detour route that utilizes Route 196 instead of the current detour on local roads.
In order to retrieve the crane, crews will be excavating a ramp that runs perpendicular to the riverbank. While they are excavating the ramp, crews will at the same time be stabilizing the slope by lowering the height of the exposed bank, as well as using fill from the excavation of the ramp to the crane.
Crews will start to mobilize equipment today in preparation for the excavation. MaineDOT has worked out agreements with neighboring landowners to utilize the property needed to retrieve the crane and start stabilizing the area. Discussions are continuing with the landowners concerning a potential new alignment for Route 136 that would be approximately 250 feet away from the current riverbank slope failure.
This Friday, crews will clear some trees in the location of the ramp. On Monday, excavation and preliminary stabilization is expected to begin. St. Laurent & Son of Lewiston is the contractor for the project.
Once the ramp is complete down to the crane, plans call for strengthening and stabilizing a pad/platform area. A heavier crane will then use the ramp and platform to upright the downed crane and remove it to higher ground.
While Route 136 remains closed, motorists are being asked to utilize a new detour route that primarily utilizes Route 196. Motorists can access Route 196 from Route 202 in Auburn, and Routes 125 and 9 in Durham. This new detour is two miles shorter than the Jordan School Road/Pownal Road/Stackpole Road detour that is being used currently.
MaineDOT will also be repaving a section of the Jordan School Road. This road has seen heavier than expected use due to the detour, and MaineDOT will be repairing and then repaving parts of this road. Portions of this road will be closed during the repairs.