Starting Friday, July 15, crews are set to begin construction on a 3.8-mile section of Route 1 in Whiting.

Crews will be removing a portion of the existing pavement, then repaving this portion of Route 1 that stretches from the intersection of Route 1 and the Gardner Lake Road north 3.8 miles to the Halls Mills Road. Construction plans also call improving drainage and replacing a large culvert along this stretch of Route 1.

Motorists who utilize Route 26/100 in Falmouth should be aware of possible delays on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week (July 12-15) as construction crews must close the Falmouth Railroad Bridge in order to offload steel beams that will be utilized in the construction of the new bridge.

The Topsham Park and Ride lot, located in the Topsham Fair Mall off Route 196 and I-295, is scheduled to close on July 15.

MaineDOT previously leased parking space from the Village Candle Company at the mall in order to provide parking spaces for the Topsham Park and Ride lot. The new tenant in the Topsham Fair Mall opted not to renew the parking lease.

MaineDOT has been working with the town of Topsham, GoMaine, and area businesses in order to find a replacement lot, but currently, a new location for the Topsham Park and Ride has not been secured.

PORTLAND, Maine ? MaineDOT officials advise motorists that shifting travel lanes and temporary on- and off-ramp closures associated with repair work on Interstate 295 will mean that travelers should pay special attention to informational signs approaching the work zone.

BRUNSWICK/TOPSHAM, Maine -- MaineDOT engineers have completed an in-depth inspection of the Black Bridge that connects Brunswick and Topsham over the Androscoggin River and will keep the bridge closed until options are discussed with Topsham and Brunswick.

By utilizing a railway underbridge inspection truck to access the underside of the bridge, it was discovered that portions of the pressure-treated wooden bridge deck, pressure-treated beams and steel floor beams have deteriorated and would no longer be safe or prudent for continued motor vehicle use.

FREEPORT, Maine ? Motorists traveling late night in Freeport on Wednesday and Thursday may need an alternate plan to enter or exit I-295 Northbound.

Tonight, repair crews will be closing the I-295 northbound Exit 22 off- and on- ramps (Mallett Drive) from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. to allow paving work to be completed on the highway near the exit. Drivers should use Exit 20 (Desert Road) or Exit 24 (Route One) to exit or enter I-295 Northbound.

FREEPORT, Maine ? Heavy rain last night forced a cancellation of nighttime paving operations near the I-295 Northbound Exit 22 (Mallett Drive) on- and off-ramps and has forced a rescheduling of ramp closures for Thursday and Monday.

With yesterday?s work moved to tonight, repair crews will be closing the I-295 Northbound Exit 22 on- and off-ramps from midnight to 6:00 a.m. to permit paving on the main travel portion of the highway. Drivers should use Exit 20 (Desert Road) or Exit 24 (Route One) to exit or enter Interstate 295 Northbound in Freeport.

FREEPORT, Maine ? Starting at 9 p.m. tonight (7/19) and continuing until 6 a.m. tomorrow (7/20), the I-295 Northbound Exit 24 (Route One) off- and on-ramps in Freeport will be closed to permit paving on the main portion of the highway. Motorists are advised to use Exit 22 (Mallett Drive) or Exit 28 (Route One) to exit or enter I-295 Northbound.

Construction crews expected to pave yesterday, however, repair work on the roughened, milled surface of the highway necessitated the postponement.

NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine -- Nearly 200 years after the first bridge crossed the Kennebec River in Norridgewock, a new bridge has opened in the same spot, and is expected to last for the next 100 years.

MaineDOT and the town of Norridgewock officially opened the new Norridgewock Bridge this morning at 11:00, culminating a process that started back in 1998 when the state and local officials first gathered and discussed replacing the deteriorating, narrow, concrete arch bridge that was built in 1928.

PORTLAND, Maine -- Those bright-orange signs on the I-295 Northbound approach to Tukeys Bridge have an important, new message for drivers. Motorists who want to take Exit 9 onto Veranda Street must stay in the right-hand lane as the highway divides both left and right around a new, work zone lane closure.