Bar Harbor ? On Tuesday, December 27th, MaineDOT contractors began placing signage on the approaches to the 4.8 mile section of Route 3 that will be reconstructed and improved over the next two and a half years. The $17.9 million project will span from a point 0.57 miles west of Sand Point Road to the intersection of Route 3/Eden Street and Route 233 in Bar Harbor. Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 9th with clearing plus utility and drainage improvements.

Holden - A severe crash has closed Route 1A in Holden.

The location is just off of I-395. Motorists will be detoured onto Route 46 and should expect delays.

Emergency personnel have arrived at the scene.

There is no word on when the scene will be cleared.

Bath ? As 2017 kicks off, MaineDOT and its contractors are reporting good progress on the construction of the new Bath Viaduct. 15 of 19 pier columns have been completed, 10 of 19 pier caps are done, and the first of 20 superstructure spans has been put in place. Overall, MaineDOT Resident Glenn Philbrook estimates that work is approximately three weeks ahead of schedule.

Bangor ? Due to a crash, a traffic light pole has fallen that has forced the closure of the Exit 186 on and off-ramps, both north and southbound, until midnight tonight.

Crews are on scene helping with traffic flow.

Motorists are advised of heavy congestion in the area.

South Portland ? A crash has closed both lanes of I-295 northbound near Exit 4 in South Portland.

An oil truck has partially spilled its load. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is on site along with other emergency personnel.

Motorists are advised to utilize Exit 3 northbound and to expect delays.

From the Department of Public Safety:

Southbound traffic on I-95 in Plymouth, near Newport, is reduced to one lane while crews work to remove a tractor trailer that went off the road into the median last night.

Workers will be offloading the cargo of bagged potatoes and then the big rig will be removed. It is expected to take several hours.

Motorists are advised that slight delays are possible.

Augusta - On March 27, 2017, the Maine Department of Transportation will be lowering the speed limit on Interstate 295 from Falmouth to Topsham from the current 70 mph to 65 mph.

Since the speed limit increase in 2014 from 65 mph to 70 mph, data shows that I-295 crashes increased by 29% in a two-year span between the year before (June 2013-May 2014) and the year after (June 2015-May 2016). During that same time period, traffic volumes increased by 6.4%.

Bath ? The construction of the new Bath Viaduct is continuing ahead of schedule according to MaineDOT. All 19 of the pier columns and pier caps were completed earlier than projected, and 17 of 20 superstructure sections are now in place, also ahead of schedule. At the current pace, MaineDOT projects that the superstructure spans will all be in place by mid-March.

Kittery ? As the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge replacement project continues, crews will be fracturing the pier on both sides of the river.

This process produces a loud sound that carries over the water. Businesses and residents can expect the fracturing to occur at the following times:

Thursday, March 9th at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Saturday, March 11th at approximately 11:00 a.m.

The new Sarah Mildred Long Bridge will be opened to traffic in September, 2017.

Kittery ? As the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge replacement project continues, crews will be fracturing the piers on both sides of the river.

This process produces a loud sound that carries over the water.

Due to daytime activities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Monday (3/13) and the impending nor?easter arriving on Tuesday, the fracturing will take place early Tuesday morning at approximately 1:30 a.m.

Both the New Hampshire and Maine Departments of Transportation appreciate the public?s patience as the work continues toward the new bridge opening in September.