AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation measured traffic volumes on some state highways yesterday that were between 10 and 20 times greater than normal. Traffic engineers monitored travel throughout the weekend and estimate that 15,000 additional vehicles came into Maine to witness the solar eclipse. Many more people traveled within the state to access the eclipse's path of totality. Additional details on traffic counts from the entire eclipse weekend will not be available until after this week.

AUGUSTA - In response to the proposed transportation funding cuts approved by the Appropriations Committee majority over the weekend, Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note released the following statement:

MASARDIS - Earlier this afternoon, a tractor-trailer struck a train on Route 11 in Masardis. Two empty rail cars derailed. Route 11 will be closed for several hours while crews work to get a crane on site to lift the rail cars. MaineDOT is setting up a detour route for vehicle traffic. This part of rail track is owned by MaineDOT. The train was being operated by Maine Northern Railway.

ROCKLAND - In a milestone for the expansion of reliable and accessible public EV charging in Maine, some of the nation's first public EV-charging stations funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are now open along U.S. Route 1 in Rockland.

GORHAM - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing Route 237 (Mosher Road) in Gorham today as crews work to repair a sinkhole that formed because of a culvert failure. The impacted location is approximately a half-mile north of the intersection of Routes 237 and 25. Crews are working to assess the damage and plan repair work. Signs will direct drivers to a detour route that uses Libby Avenue and Route 4/202.

UPDATE:

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree will also be attending.

WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing emergency repair work on the Carter Memorial Bridge tonight. This bridge carries Route 137 between Waterville and Winslow. It is also being used as a detour route during construction on the Ticonic Bridge to the north. MaineDOT crews will be working to repair a loose bridge joint on the west side of the bridge. Work will begin at 7:00 p.m. and be finished by 6:00 a.m. During this overnight work, there will be a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern.

SACO - The Maine Department of Transportation is continuing work to reconstruct and expand the Saco park-and-ride lot on Industrial Park Road. On-site work is scheduled to resume on March 25th. During construction, the lot will be closed, and a temporary lot will be available a half-mile north on Industrial Park Road. Signage will direct drivers to the temporary lot. This project will expand the number of parking spaces from 128 to 152 including six van-accessible spots. This project will also involve the installation of improved bus and pedestrian facilities and new overhead lighting.

SEARSPORT - The Maine Department of Transportation and its contracting partners are continuing work on a project to rehabilitate and reconstruct Route 1 in downtown Searsport.

On-site construction began in June. Work will resume next week. Beginning on Tuesday, March 5th, southbound traffic will follow a detour that involves Mortland, Old County, and Prospect Roads. This detour is expected to be in place until October 15th.

The anticipated construction completion date for all work is in June of 2025.

WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Ticonic Bridge to all traffic during nighttime hours next week to accommodate ongoing construction work that requires access to the entire bridge. The Ticonic Bridge carries Bridge Street (Routes 137 and 201) over the Kennebec River between Waterville and Winslow.