AUGUSTA - Today, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) released the 2024 Edition of its three-year Work Plan. It includes all capital projects and programs, maintenance and operations activities, planning initiatives, and administrative functions for calendar years 2024, 2025, and 2026.

MaineDOT's Work Plan is the primary way the department delivers on its mission: to support economic opportunity and quality of life by responsibly providing our customers with the safest and most reliable transportation system possible, given available resources.

The Maine Department of Transportation is set to begin repairs to the Barter?s Island Drawbridge in the town of Boothbay, and motorists should expect to see construction activity beginning the week of January 11.

Construction is expected to be completed by May 1, 2010. During the construction period, there will be periods of one way, alternating traffic over the bridge, and several complete closures of the bridge. The complete closures are expected to last for approximately two hours. An electronic message board will be utilized to inform motorists of each expected full closure.

MaineDOT will shut down all northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Fairfield at Exit 133 on Wednesday, January 6 at midnight for approximately ? hour as crews replace a damaged sign truss. Motorists should also expect lane closures in the area between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 4 a.m. Thursday as crews prepare to remove the sign truss.

On Monday, January 11, and Tuesday, January 12, the Free Black Bridge will be closed between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. in order for MaineDOT crews to inspect the bridge and replace two structural hangers. The Free Black Bridge carries one lane of traffic and the Lewiston Lower Road rail line over the Androscoggin River between Topsham and Brunswick.

Crews will be using an underbridge crane to inspect the bridge. Crews will also remove and replace two damaged support hangers on the bridge. Motorists are encouraged to use the Frank J. Wood Bridge while the Free Black Bridge is closed.

Starting Tuesday, January 19, the Maine Department of Transportation must close the Songo Locks Drawbridge in Naples to all traffic in order to repair the bridge deck and replace deteriorating pieces of steel. The repairs are expected to be completed prior to May 1, 2010, the traditional opening date of the swing bridge to marine traffic.

AUGUSTA ? The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has announced it is accepting public comments on the three final choices for a bypass route around Wiscasset?s downtown.

Comments will be accepted by the USACE through February 19, 2010 and can be emailed to Jay Clement at jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil or mailed to him at:

U.S. Army Corps of EngineersMaine Project Office 675 Western Avenue, #3 Manchester, Maine 04351.

The Maine Department of Transportation has closed a section of Route 113 and the Weston Bridge in Fryeburg as the Saco River has flooded its banks. The Weston Bridge carries Route 113 over the Saco River near the New Hampshire border

The road and bridge will remain closed until the river recedes. Currently there is a large ice dam two hundred yards upriver of the bridge that is estimated at 8-10? high and ? mile in length. The ice dam is a potential hazard to the bridge, and the ice dam is currently growing in length and height.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has given approval to the Maine Department of Transportation to move forward with the Caribou Connector project, a 4.28-mile connector that will loop around Caribou and connect Route 1 with Route 161. The FHWA gave its approval in the form of a Tier 2 Record of Decision (ROD) Thursday that identified the environmentally preferred route for the bypass.

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) reported today that discussions are continuing in an attempt to resolve the potential ?abandonment? of approximately 240 miles of railroad track in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties. This trackage is currently owned and operated by the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railroad (MMA) of Hermon. MMA owns and operates this freight rail line and approximately 200 additional miles of track in Maine, as well as significant rail mileage in the Province of Quebec.

Ryan Campbell, a MaineDOT snowplow operator, captured first place at the XIII International Winter Road Congress Snowplow Championship in Quebec City. Campbell was the best in a field of over 20 operators that came from all over the world. MaineDOT?s Joe Osgood finished in the top ten as well.