HAMPDEN - On Friday, May 21st, the Maine Department of Transportation will celebrate the opening of the Grist Mill Bridge, which carries Routes 1A and 9 over Souadabscook Stream in Hampden. This bridge uses composite girders that were designed and patented by the University of Maine in collaboration with AIT Bridges. The technology is lighter, designed to require less maintenance, and expected to last up to 25 years longer than conventional bridges.

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BANGOR - The Maine Department of Transportation will be repairing the bridge that carries I-95 over Stillwater Avenue in Bangor next week. This work will require the closure of the travel lanes on both sides of the interstate. The passing lanes will be the only lanes open to traffic during this project. Work will begin Monday, May 24th. The lane restrictions will be in place around the clock until the repairs are complete. MaineDOT's goal is to finish this work and reopen all lanes of traffic before the holiday weekend. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries.

GORHAM - The Maine Department of Transportation is continuing work on Route 25 at Brandy Brook in Gorham. The work area is approximately 0.4 mile north of State Street. Last year, crews installed a new culvert and relocated the stream. This year, the department is repairing guardrails and paving. Travel lanes will be open in both directions between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. as well as between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Drivers may encounter an alternating single lane of traffic between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

BRIDGTON - The Maine Department of Transportation will be installing traffic count sensors on Route 302 (North High Street) in Bridgton. The work area is west of Route 302's west junction with Jim Douglas Road. Work on the westbound side of the road is scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25th and take all day. Eastbound lane work will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26th. Work is expected to take approximately ten hours on each day. This work will require lane closures.

HAMPDEN - On Friday, May 21st, the Maine Department of Transportation joined U.S. Senator Susan Collins; University of Maine researchers; Advanced Infrastructure Technologies (AIT) Bridges team members; industry partners; and state, local, and federal officials to celebrate the opening of the new Grist Mill Bridge in Hampden.

The 75-foot-long, single-span bridge carries Routes 1A and 9 over Souadabscook Stream. The old structure consisted of three bridges built on top of one other. The most recent of those bridges dated to approximately 1950.

SOMERSET COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation is doing paving work and making drainage improvements on Route 201 in Somerset County. The project area stretches more than 13 miles: it begins in West Forks Plantation, just south of the border with Johnson Mountain Township, and extends north, through Parlin Pond Township, ending in Jackman. Work is scheduled to be finished by the beginning of October. Drivers should expect single lane closures with a one-way alternative traffic pattern. The contractor on this job is Pike Industries of Fairfield.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting its first series of drive-thru job interviews in the coming weeks. These drive-thru interviews are being done to help maintain health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic as MaineDOT works to fill several important positions in our Office of Fleet Services. Specifically, the department is looking to hire several heavy vehicle and equipment technicians at the Fleet Garage in Augusta.

UPDATE: Due, in part, to the weather forecast and increasing traffic volumes, this traffic shift is now being planned for June 7th.

KITTERY - The "Maine Ahead" project on the Piscatacqua River (I-95) Bridge in Kittery is entering its third and final year on time and on budget. This project is improving safety and mobility on Maine's most important bridge and will preserve the structure for another 50 years of use. This work is also preparing the bridge for an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project, which will allow part-time shoulder use during peak travel times.

KNOX COUNTY - UPDATE - The Maine Department of Transportation will be continuing paving work along Routes 73 and 131 in Knox County. Work began in 2020, and was estimated to be finished by June 4th, but will require more time to complete. Paving work will continue through June 16th. Paving work on Route 73 begins at the Rockland town line and extends more than two miles south through Owls Head and into South Thomaston. The Route 131 project area begins at Port Clyde Road in Saint George and extends north for nearly ten miles through South Thomaston, ending at Route 1 in Thomaston.