South Portland ? Crews will be removing the Route 1 overpass in the vicinity of Lincoln Street in South Portland starting on January 10th at 8:30 a.m. through 6 a.m. on January 12th. Traffic will be detoured from Route 1 (Main Street) utilizing Lincoln Street and Main Street. The detour will be in effect for 45.5 continuous hours with local police and flaggers helping to guide traffic through the detour.

News Release for January 24, 2012

For More Information, Please Contact:Ted Talbot, MaineDOT Public Information Officer - 624-3030

Community Buses Roll Into Maine

Augusta ? The Maine Department of Transportation welcomes a fleet of buses rolling into the state today for use by Maine community transit providers. A total of 14 Orion buses are being transferred by the Westchester (New York) County Public Works and Transportation Department to be received by the following communities:

Motorists traveling in Argyle need to be aware of the closure ofRoute 116 which will take place February 6th through the 9th.No thru traffic will be allowed for approximately 7.5 miles north of the intersection of Routes 16 and 116, due to the replacement of a cross pipe that has failed. The closure signs will guide travelers to alternate routes including Interstate 95, Route 16 and Route 2, all of which will be fully accessible to all traffic.

Searsport - The MaineDOT and the Maine Port Authority are taking delivery of the largest marine crane in the state this weekend.

A specialty heavy lift transport vessel is expected to arrive Friday morning at about 9:00am with the partially assembled crane located on its weather deck. Transfer of the crane and all its components is expected to begin Saturday morning and be completed by nightfall.

Augusta - The Maine Department of Transportation and A-1 Cab Service, a private taxi service located in Saco, Maine, are pleased to announce the groundbreaking arrival of the region?s first handicapped accessible taxis to serve individuals with disabilities in southern Maine.

Portland, ME. Citing the importance of driver awareness, caution, and patience, the Maine Department of Transportation held a press conference this morning to provide a detailed look at this year?s Interstate 295 construction plan.

The primary goal for this year?s $7.9 million project work is to conduct maintenance and repairs on 13 bridges and overpasses from the Maine Turnpike Approach Road overpass to the Route 26/Washington Avenue on ramp. All work is confined to I-295?s northbound lane.

Dresden ? MaineDOT officials have postponed tonight?s 6:00pm public meeting at the Pownalborough Hall on Patterson Street regarding the replacement of the Maine Kennebec Bridge. The facility is currently being used as an emergency staging area for volunteers and first responders in the search for 12 year old Micah Thomas, who went missing in Dresden yesterday afternoon.

When MaineDOT and town officials have decided on a future date and time, the public will find the information on our website at www.mainedot.gov

Portland, ME. Maine?s mild winter and lack of snow have made it possible for construction work to begin earlier this year on the $7.9 million Interstate 295 highway improvement project. In fact, road crews will take the first step in preparing the work zone at the Congress Street Interchange Friday, March 16, by installing additional structural support to the Fore River Parkway Bridge, also known as the Portland Connector.

Bowdoinham ? Traffic continues to move slowly on I-295 northbound between the Bowdoinham and Richmond exits (#37 and #43) due to a morning accident involving a semi trailer at mile marker #40. Crews are removing the debris and cleaning up the fuel spill prior to extrication of the vehicle.

This effort is now expected to move into the evening commute, so travelers are advised to prepare for ?stop and go? traffic delays or to seek an alternate route.

Bowdoinham ? This morning a commercial vehicle crashed in the median on I-295 northbound between the Bowdoinham and Richmond exits (#37 and #43) at mile marker #40. MaineDOT crews have signs posted to alert drivers on the approach, as traffic has slowed through the area due to a left lane closure.

Maine State Police are on scene along with MaineDOT and the EPA, who are assisting in the cleanup of a large amount of fuel. This effort is expected to continue through most of the day.