Farmingdale, ME ? The temporary closure of U.S. Route 201 to through-traffic between Sheldon St. and Northern Ave. in Farmingdale is scheduled to begin tonight at approximately 7PM. A detour for through-traffic will be established at Maple St. for those traveling southbound, and at Northern Ave. for those traveling northbound. Through traffic may avoid the detour altogether by using Rt. 9 on the east side of the Kennebec River or other alternate routes. Rt. 201 will remain open to local traffic except between Sheldon St. and Northern Ave., and access to all businesses will be maintained.
Weather permitting, the construction of a large box culvert will be completed in time to allow the road to re-open to through-traffic on Thursday evening, September 15. According to Mike Light, Project Superintendent for Sargent Corporation, this box culvert installation is the only occasion in the reconstruction of Rt. 201 that requires a temporary closure to through traffic.
"We are hoping that folks who would be just passing through will use Rt. 9 or some other route," Light said, "and that will reduce congestion for the local traffic coming in to visit one of the businesses here." Light pointed out that Sargent crews are working around the clock to make the closure to through-traffic and detour as brief as possible. "
Southbound through-traffic that does not move to Rt. 9 or another route will be detoured over Maple St., Blaine Rd., Bowman St., Peacock St. and Northern Ave. The detour route will be the reverse for northbound drivers. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will be detoured to the Rail Trail between Sheldon St. and Northern Ave.
For more information on the reconstruction of Route 201 and to see a map of the detour route, drivers are encouraged to visit MaineDOT.gov where it is also possible to sign up for email alerts.