AROOSTOOK COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation is working to stabilize and protect two areas of heavily eroded embankment along the Saint John River near Route 161 in Allagash and Saint Francis. This project will restore the structural integrity of the bank. Without this work, significant erosion on the already compromised slope will continue, which would eventually compromise the road.Work in Allagash will happen in 2020; the work area will begin just west of Carney Road and extend east for about one-fifth of a mile. We expect the Allagash work to finish by November 1st, 2020. Work in Saint Francis will begin in 2021; that project area will begin just west of Pelletier Mill Road and extend east for approximately one-fourth of a mile. We expect the St. Francis work to finish by November 1st, 2021.
Traffic will be restricted to one travel lane for the duration of the work. The westbound land will be closed off with concrete barricades. The work areas will have temporary traffic signals installed before lane closures happen to allow for an alternating, one-way traffic pattern.
The contractor on this project is Soderberg Construction Company of Caribou.