KITTERY - The "Maine Ahead" project will begin a new phase of safety improvement work on the Piscataqua River Bridge, which carries I-95 between Kittery, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Crews will be replacing bridge joints that date back to the original construction of the bridge a half-century ago.

HAMPDEN - The Maine Department of Transportation will be replacing eight bridges and rehabilitating a ninth bridge on a four-mile-long stretch of I-95 in Hampden. These bridges are almost 60 years old and are approaching the end of their useful lives. This project will affect traffic on both the northbound and southbound sides of the interstate between mile markers 176 and 180. Several of the bridges carry I-95 over Souadabscook Stream. One carries the interstate over Emerson Mills Road. Another carries Cold Brook Road over the interstate.

WISCASSET - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting more traffic signal work in downtown Wiscasset on February 26th and 28th. The purpose of this work is to test the functionality of the new signals. This work will be happening at two signalized intersections: Main Street (Route 1) Middle Street as well as Main Street (Route 1) and Water Street. Signal testing will be happening from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. We ask that drivers remain alert as they're passing through this area.

KITTERY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting a routine safety inspection on the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge on Tuesday, February 25th. We are required to do these inspections every two years. This work will impact traffic between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Drivers will encounter lane restrictions, and we will likely have to open the bridge several times during the inspection process. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding while we conduct this important work.

MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be holding an informational public open house on Thursday, March 12th regarding the Madawaksa-Edmundston International Bridge replacement project. The open house will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST in the Madawaksa Middle/High School cafeteria at 135 Seventh Ave. in Madawaska. In the event of inclement weather, the open house will be pushed to the following Thursday, March 19th.

MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note released the following statement today:

At MaineDOT, our top priority is always safety. Not only does that mean the safety of our workers, but it also means the safety of our production partners and the traveling public. The current challenge does not change that. Road crews still need to plow snow, help first responders during traffic incidents, cut brush, and fill potholes as the weather warms. Capital projects still need to be designed, put out to bid, and constructed.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation is resuming work on Route 25 in Gorham and Westbrook. The project area begins where Route 25 intersects with Cressey Road in Gorham and extends east for approximately five miles, ending at the southeasternmost intersection of Route 25 and Conant Street in Westbrook. The remaining work on this project involves paving between Cressey Road and Meadowbrook Drive in Gorham. We will be doing signal work at the intersections of School Street, Elm Street, New Portland Road, and Libby Avenue.

ROCKLAND - The Maine State Ferry Service will be reducing its schedule due to a significant decrease in ridership and to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. This reduction in service will take effect on Saturday, March 28th and remain in effect until further notice. Like many other ferry services across the country, we have experienced a recent decrease in ridership as a result of the current health climate. These reduced ridership levels will still allow passengers to practice social distancing even with fewer trips between the mainland the six islands served by the Ferry Service.

MARCH 25TH UPDATE:

This week's snow delayed some of this work. In addition to the below closures, the contractor also plans to close both northbound lanes of the interstate from 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26th until 5:00 a.m. on Friday, March 27th.

ORIGINAL MARCH 19TH PRESS RELEASE:

BANGOR - MaineDOT's ongoing Ohio Street Bridge demolition work will require several overnight lane closures on I-95 next week. These lane closures are necessary for the safety of the traveling public while our crews remove the bridge beams. The schedule is as follows:

WISCASSET - The two new traffic signals in downtown Wiscasset will be going live on Tuesday, March 31st. These signals are at the intersection of Main Street (Route 1) and Middle Street as well as at the intersection of Main Street (Route 1) and Water Street. The Maine Department of Transportation tested these signals in both October and February. Once they go live at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, they will remain active year-round.