HAMPDEN - The Maine Department of Transportation opened the new East Souadabscook Stream Bridge to traffic on the southbound side of I-95 this morning. This is the first of four new southbound bridges on I-95 in Hampden that will be opened this year. The Center and West Souadabscook Stream Bridges are expected to open next month. The last of the four new southbound bridges, the Emerson Mill Road bridge, is scheduled to be opened in late August or early September.

The first version of this press release did not specify that only runs on the Capt. Richard G. Spear are impacted. All runs on the the Capt. E. Frank Thompson are currently on schedule.

BOOTHBAY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be making improvements on River Road in Boothbay next month. The specific project area is about a half-mile north of the intersection of River Road and Route 27. Crews will be replacing culverts, widening the shoulder, and replacing the guardrail. This work will require the full closure of River Road throughout the duration of the project. Work is scheduled to begin on June 6th and end by June 24th. Drivers should use McKay Road as a detour. The contractor on this project is Littlefields Construction of Buxton.

WATERVILLE - The Maine Department of Transportation is closing the I-95 northbound off-ramp at Exit 127 in Waterville tonight. This closure is being done to accommodate maintenance work on the ramp. The ramp will close at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26th and reopen by 6:00 a.m. on Friday, May 27th.

This work is part of a contract awarded to Northeast Paving of Hermon. The total contract amount is $11,819,411.

MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting its annual inspection of the International Bridge in Madawaska next month. This inspection will involve daily traffic closures to ensure the safety of both the traveling public and the crews inspecting the bridge. Drivers should expect closures between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST from Monday June 6th through Saturday June 11th. The sidewalk will remain open during the inspection.

HAMPDEN - As part of the ongoing work on the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project, the Maine Department of Transportation will continue shifting I-95 traffic to the new southbound bridges next week.On Tuesday, June 7th, southbound interstate traffic will be shifted to the newly constructed Center Bridge over the Souadabscook Stream. Interstate speed limits will be reduced to 55 MPH throughout the work zone. Drivers should drive carefully, observe signage, and obey speed limits while passing through work zones.

WATERVILLE - The Maine Department of Transportation is closing the I-95 northbound off-ramp at Exit 127 in Waterville on Sunday, June 5th. This closure is being done to accommodate maintenance work on the ramp. The ramp will close at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 5th and reopen by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 6th. This work is part of a contract awarded to Northeast Paving of Hermon. The total contract amount is $11,819,411.

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has identified a bridge span as the preferred alternative to replace the existing four box culverts on the Machias Dike Bridge, which carries Route 1 over the Middle River in the Town of Machias. The current structure dates to the Civil War era and is deteriorating.

BETHEL - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work on Parkway Road in Bethel. The project area begins at Route 2 and extends east for nearly half a mile to Route 26. Work is scheduled to begin on June 13th and end by July 21st. Drivers may encounter a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern throughout the work area. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries of Westbrook. This work is bundled with other highway work in Oxford County into a single contract in the amount of $10,492,099.

BETHEL - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work and making drainage improvements on part of Route 26 in Bethel. The project area begins just south of Taylor Smith Road and extends west for nearly three miles, ending after Intervale Road. Work is scheduled to begin on June 13th and end by July 21st. Drivers may encounter a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern throughout the work area. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries of Westbrook.