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MaineDOT News Releases
Following are the latest news releases issued by The Maine Department of Transportation.
News Release for November 10, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ROCKLAND - The new Maine State Ferry Service vessel being built to serve Matinicus Isle will be named the Charles Norman Shay after the heroic Maine veteran and member of the Penobscot Nation who served as a combat medic during the D-Day invasion.
Mr. Shay was 19 years old and living on Indian Island when he was drafted to serve in World War II. He served as a combat medic during the D-Day invasion and saved many lives on Omaha Beach. Mr. Shay is believed to be the last living Native American who stormed the beaches of Normandy. Mr. Shay's heroic efforts on D-Day earned him the Silver Star and the French Legion of Honor. He also served in the Battle of the Bulge. After World War II, he served in Korea.
Mr. Shay is 99 years old and living in France. He will turn 100 in June.
In August 2022, MaineDOT awarded the ferry vessel construction contract to Steiner Shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Construction began in November 2022. This new diesel ferry will be 104 feet long. It will have the capacity to carry 149 passengers and seven cars. The cost of construction is approximately $10 million.
Selecting a name for a new Maine State Ferry Service vessel is done through consultation between the MSFS Advisory Board and the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. Earlier this year, the residents of Matinicus recommended to the MSFS Advisory Board that the island's new vessel be named after Mr. Shay. Members of the Matinicus community wanted to recognize the Penobscots because of their presence on the island for centuries prior to the arrival of European settlers. Mr. Shay has deep family roots in the areas that will be served by this vessel. This will be the first MSFS vessel named for a Native American.
Earlier this week, the Maine Department of Transportation contacted Mr. Shay in France to update him on the construction of the vessel that will bear his name.
The Charles Norman Shay is expected to arrive in Rockland in the first half of 2024.
Please contact MaineDOT Director of Communications Paul Merrill for recent pictures of Mr. Shay as well as pictures of the ongoing ferry vessel construction.
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News Release for November 7, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
MACHIAS - The Maine Department of Transportation is taking action to preserve the safety and reliability of the Machias Dike Bridge after recent inspections showed increasing voids within the structure. Part of the shoulder and parking area on the southbound (upstream) side of the bridge are being closed today. In the coming months, the department is planning to put a temporary bridge over the existing structure to maintain traffic on the bridge and adjacent Sunrise Trail. The construction of this temporary bridge will result in the closure of Route 1 for approximately one week.
Bridge inspectors observed areas of concern during a routine bridge inspection in September. Divers returned to the area last week and observed new areas of soil loss between the concrete slab (under the road surface) and the timber that forms the top of the gated boxes.
Additionally, MaineDOT is changing its preferred alternative for the replacement of the Machias Dike Bridge. MaineDOT's new preferred alternative involves the continued use of fully gated culverts.
The Machias Dike Bridge carries Route 1 over the Middle River in the Town of Machias. The current structure dates to the Civil War era and is deteriorating. For the past several years, MaineDOT has been undertaking a feasibility study to improve or replace the existing bridge.
For the past 16 months, MaineDOT has continued to receive public and stakeholder input. The department has conducted an investigation of the former municipal landfill site and asked federal resource agencies, including the National Marine Fisheries Service, for clarifying information. Community stakeholders and landowners adjacent to the Middle River have repeatedly expressed concerns about the flooding that would be associated with a bridge alternative. This flooding would impact private property and the former landfill location. While MaineDOT realizes that some stakeholders may prefer a bridge alternative and tidal restoration, the department believes a fully gated culvert alternative will best meet the project's purpose and need. This alternative will improve the structure's condition, maintain the Sunrise Trail, provide for future rail use, and avoid flooding hundreds of acres of land.
MaineDOT will prepare a draft Environmental Assessment of the gated culvert alternative under the National Environmental Policy Act. The department intends to hold a public meeting on the draft Environmental Assessment in early 2024. This project should be entering the design phase by this time next year.
Additional project information is available at https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/machiasbridge/.
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News Release for November 6, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
MADAWASKA - The International Bridge that connects Madawaska, Maine to Edmundston, New Brunswick will be closed to daytime vehicle traffic for three days this week to accommodate paving work on the Canadian side. The land port of entry in Edmundston will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. AST (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST) on Tuesday, November 7th; Wednesday, November 8th; and Thursday, November 9th. Pedestrian traffic will still have access to the bridge and the port of entry.
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News Release for November 3, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
OLD TOWN - The Maine Department of Transportation will be intermittently closing traffic lanes on the Llewellyn Estes Bridges that carry Stillwater Avenue over the Stillwater River in Old Town in the coming weeks. These lane closures are necessary to allow paving work on the approaches for the temporary bridge. There will be an alternating, single-lane traffic pattern during these closures. They will only happen between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from Monday, November 6th through Friday, November 17th. Each lane closure is not expected to last longer than two hours.
On-site construction work for the temporary bridge began on July 24th. Traffic is expected to begin using the temporary bridge by the end of April 2024. This temporary bridge will carry two-way vehicle traffic, a pedestrian sidewalk, and temporary utilities in preparation of the replacement of the existing bridge system.
Woolwich-based bridge contractor Reed & Reed, Inc. is working with MaineDOT through a Construction Manager/General Contractor design agreement to streamline design and construction activities for the replacement of the two Llewllyn Estes Bridges. The awarded amount for this first phase of construction is $10 million. Additional contracts will be awarded for future phases of the bridge replacement work. A contract for the nearby highway work was awarded to Gordon Contracting of Sangerville on June 29th for $10.9 million.
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News Release for November 2, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - On Tuesday, November 14th, the Maine Department of Transportation will hold the third of three in-person stakeholder group meetings to assist the department in identifying and developing strategies to address highway mobility and transportation needs in northern Maine. This third meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center, located at 55 Bennett Drive. Members of the public are welcome to attend and provide comments.
In June, the Maine State Legislature passed, and Governor Mills signed into law, LD 607, Resolve, to Direct the Department of Transportation to Examine Improving Highway Connections from Interstate 95 to the St. John Valley. In accordance with that resolve, this stakeholder group consists of 11 members and includes representatives from local municipal offices, regional and statewide planning organizations, and local industry groups. This group will review past feasibility studies and recommend highway improvements that will improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity in Aroostook County.
The first meeting of this stakeholder group was on September 18th in Madawaska. The second meeting was on October 12th in Fort Kent. A virtual meeting will be held on December 12th to review this group's work.
By the end of the year, MaineDOT will submit a final report that includes the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
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News Release for October 31, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
UPDATE: This work had been postponed from last month. It is beginning this week.
KITTERY - This week, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), in partnership with the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) and the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA), will begin testing the messaging components for the new dynamic part-time shoulder use (PTSU) system that was recently installed on I-95 between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. This system was developed to help relieve congestion during peak traffic times on the I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge between the two states. Testing is scheduled to begin mid-morning on Wednesday, November 1st.
Daytime shoulder closures, both northbound and southbound, will occur intermittently over the next several weeks for final system testing. Motorists will see the system's messaging components (beacons and lane use signals) turn on and off at various times during the testing. Message boards will be utilized to alert travelers that tests are being performed. The shoulder lanes will remain closed to through traffic and should only be used for emergencies. A final press release will announce the date the system will become operational for motorists.
About the New System
Anyone who regularly travels along I-95 on summer weekends is familiar with the congestion that occurs at the Piscataqua River Bridge. To ease congestion on I-95 during peak travel periods, New Hampshire and Maine have agreed to allow the right shoulder of the road to be used as an open travel lane over the Piscataqua River Bridge and for several miles along each approach. This concept, known as dynamic part-time shoulder use (PTSU), can be turned on and off as traffic conditions require, using lane use signals to electronically indicate when the shoulder is open for travel. This informational flyer shows how the system works.
Over the past several months, New Hampshire and Maine have been installing several traffic control devices along the section of I-95 from New Hampshire's Exit 5 to Maine's Exit 3. There will also be warning signs with flashing beacons at the on-ramps approaching the system to alert merging traffic when the shoulder lane is open for travel and to use extra caution when merging into the highway. The system will be controlled by operators at the Transportation Management Centers (TMCs) in New Hampshire and Maine.
Designed primarily to reduce congestion and improve safety, the PTSU system will be used during peak congestion periods from May through October, during unplanned incidents, and as traffic conditions warrant.
Green Mountain Communications is the general contractor for this $9.4-million contract. This new system is expected to be operational this fall.
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News Release for October 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
LINCOLN COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be rehabilitating the Southport Bridge the movable bridge that carries Route 27 over the Townsend Gut at the Boothbay Harbor/Southport town line. Specifically, this work will involve replacing elements of the bridge structure, overhauling the electrical and control system, replacing mechanical equipment, and adding safety features.
Mobilization of the site started earlier this month. Construction work is scheduled to begin on October 30th. Crews will be on site, installing traffic control items in advance of the start of work. The anticipated project completion date is May 29th, 2025.
During construction, there will be an alternating single-lane traffic pattern on the bridge. There will be limited times when the contractor is allowed to close the bridge to vehicle traffic between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. to install mechanical equipment and perform functional testing of the bridge. Emergency vehicles will still be permitted to cross the bridge during these closures.
There will be two periods of time when the bridge will not be able to open to allow the passage of marine traffic. The first closure period is scheduled from this month to May 17th, 2024. The second closure period is scheduled from September 30th, 2024 to May 17th, 2025. The U.S. Coast Guard has implemented a safety zone around the work area effective from October 23rd, 2023 through May 17, 2024.
Pedestrian access to the bridge will not be restricted during construction.
The contractor on this project is Cianbro of Pittsfield. The contract amount is $20.9 million. This project was awarded a $7.64-million federal BUILD grant in 2020.
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News Release for October 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ALBION - The Maine Department of Transportation is closing the Puddle Dock Bridge in Albion today after the structure failed a routine inspection. The bridge carries South Freedom Road over Fifteen Mile Stream. On an average day, approximately 400 vehicles use this bridge. Originally constructed in 1933, the bridge is scheduled to be replaced in 2025. The detour using state roads is approximately 12 miles long.
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News Release for October 19, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BRUNSWICK/TOPSHAM - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing a bridge inspection of the Frank J. Wood Bridge on Tuesday, October 24th. This bridge carries Route 201 between Brunswick and Topsham. Because of the poor condition of the fracture critical Frank J. Wood Bridge, MaineDOT engineers inspect it every six months instead of the normal every 24 month frequency. Construction of a new bridge is currently underway.
This inspection work will impact traffic. Drivers should expect impacts between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Southbound traffic moving from Topsham to Brunswick will be able to cross the bridge. Northbound traffic from Brunswick to Topsham will be detoured to the Topsham Bypass and Route 196. In the event of bad weather, this work could shift to Wednesday, October 25th or Thursday, October 26th.
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News Release for October 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
KENNEBEC COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation and CSX are working to make safety improvements and improve track conditions at a railroad crossing on River Road in Benton and Clinton. This project will result in a safer crossing for vehicles. MaineDOT worked with CSX to secure Federal Highway Administration grant funding to help support these safety improvements.
This work will require the closure of River Road at the railroad crossing located north of Pleasant Drive in Benton from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 21st until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, October 23rd. Vehicle traffic will be detoured over Route 100, Route 201, and Route 23.
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News Release for October 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
NORTH BERWICK - The Maine Department of Transportation and CSX are working to make safety improvements and improve track conditions at a railroad crossing on Route 4 in North Berwick. This project will result in a safer crossing for vehicles; it will also allow the Downeaster to travel at increased speeds. MaineDOT worked with CSX to secure Federal Highway Administration grant funding to help support these safety improvements.
This work will require the closure of Route 4 at the railroad crossing just south of Buffum Road from Saturday, October 21st to Monday, October 23rd. Vehicle traffic will be detoured using Routes 9 and 236. This project will also cancel several Amtrak Downeaster trips on Saturday morning. The cancelled trains are 691, 693, 694, and 698. Ticketed passengers are eligible to receive a refund and/or may be re-accommodated on operating trains by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
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News Release for October 10, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - On Thursday, October 12th, the Maine Department of Transportation will hold the second of three in-person stakeholder group meetings to assist the department in identifying and developing strategies to address highway mobility and transportation needs in northern Maine. This second meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. in the Fort Kent Town Office, located at 416 West Main Street. Members of the public are welcome to attend and provide comments.
In June, the Maine State Legislature passed, and Governor Mills signed into law, LD 607, Resolve, to Direct the Department of Transportation to Examine Improving Highway Connections from Interstate 95 to the St. John Valley. In accordance with that resolve, this stakeholder group consists of 11 members and includes representatives from local municipal offices, regional and statewide planning organizations, and local industry groups. This group will review past feasibility studies and recommend highway improvements that will improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity in Aroostook County.
The first meeting of this stakeholder group was on September 18th in Madawaska. The third in-person meeting will be on November 14th in Caribou. A virtual meeting will be held on December 12th to review this group's work.
By the end of the year, MaineDOT will submit a final report that includes the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
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News Release for September 26, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
This work was not finished last weekend. The Auburn park-and-ride lot will be closed from midnight to 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, September 30th to finish striping operations. In the case of bad weather, work will be moved to the following Saturday, October 7th.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 9-20-23:
AUBURN - The Auburn park-and-ride lot on Washington Street (Routes 4 and 202) will be closed this weekend to accommodate paving and striping work. This is the lot that is off Maine Turnpike Exit 75. The closure will run from midnight on Saturday, September 23rd through 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 24th. If there is rain this weekend, the work will be moved to the following weekend. The Concord Trailways terminal will still be accessible during construction activities. The contractor for this work is St. Laurent & Sons of Lewiston. The contract amount is $80,000.
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News Release for September 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
UPDATE:
These daily closures will be extended through Wednesday, September 27th.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 9/18/23:
MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the International Bridge in Madawaska to all traffic during daytime hours for several days to accommodate construction work associated with the new bridge. The closures are scheduled for September 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 25th. The closure times will be between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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News Release for September 20, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
STATEWIDE - The Maine Department of Transportation is working to install 44 new sidewalk ramps and make curb improvements in various communities. The new ramps are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The locations are Berwick, Falmouth, Kennebunk, Limerick, Mechanic Falls, North Yarmouth, and Waterboro. Work began on September 11th and is scheduled to be finished on December 9th. This work will involve sidewalk and lane closures. The contractor on this project is Coastal Road Repair of Westbrook. The contract amount is approximately $556,000.
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News Release for September 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WATERFORD - The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing a culvert on route 118 in Waterford. The project location is approximately 1.2 miles west of Hersey Road. Crews are replacing a pipe culvert with a box culvert. This replacement will have a better alignment with the stream and help fix an erosion problem. Construction began on September 5th and is scheduled to be finished on October 15th. Route 118 will be closed between Routes 35 and 37 between September 11th and September 26th. The contractor on this project is R.J. Grondin & Sons or Gorham. The construction contract amount is approximately $616,000.
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News Release for September 7, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation is convening an advisory stakeholder group to assist the department in identifying and developing strategies to address highway mobility and transportation needs in northern Maine. This group will review past feasibility studies and recommend highway improvements that will improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity in Aroostook County.
"Aroostook County is a special place and a key element of our statewide transportation system in Maine," said Bruce Van Note, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. "The members of this stakeholder group will examine northern Maine's transportation needs and work toward practical solutions aimed at improving connections, supporting economic development, and improving quality of life. We look forward to engaging with our partners in Aroostook County and spending some extra time in one of the most beautiful parts of our state this fall."
In June, the Maine State Legislature passed, and Governor Mills signed into law, LD 607, Resolve, to Direct the Department of Transportation to Examine Improving Highway Connections from Interstate 95 to the St. John Valley. In accordance with that resolve, this stakeholder group will consist of 11 members and include representatives from local municipal offices, regional and statewide planning organizations, and local industry groups.
This stakeholder group will have three in-person public meetings in Aroostook County in the coming months. The first meeting will be on September 18th at the Knights of Columbus Hall (172 Fox Street) in Madawaska. Additional meetings are scheduled for October 12th in Fort Kent and November 14th in Caribou. Exact locations of the second and third meetings are still being finalized. Each stakeholder meeting is scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The last hour of each meeting is reserved for public comments.
A virtual meeting will be held on December 12th to review this group's work. By the end of the year, MaineDOT will submit a final report that includes the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
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News Release for September 7, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
SOUTH PORTLAND - The South Portland park-and-ride lot on the eastbound side of Samantha Smith Way (Highway 703) will be closed this weekend to accommodate paving and striping work. This is the lot that is off Maine Turnpike Exit 45. The closure will run from midnight on Saturday, September 9th through 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10th. If there is rain this weekend, the work will be moved to the following weekend. The contractor for this work is Coastal Road Repair of Westbrook. The contract amount is $70,000.
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News Release for August 31, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
SACO - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work and making other safety and drainage improvements along part of Route 1 in Saco. The project area begins just south of Cascade Road (Route 98) and extends north for approximately one mile to the Scarborough town line. Work is scheduled to begin on September 11th and end on October 20th. This will be day work, happening between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. During this time, traffic will be reduced to a single lane on the northbound side and a single lane on the southbound side. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries of Fairfield. The contract amount is approximately $1.3 million.
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News Release for August 28, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ROCKLAND - On Friday afternoon, Maine State Ferry Service crew members aboard the Margaret Chase Smith rescued a kayaker in distress off Islesboro. One of the crew members involved in the rescue will be available to speak with reporters at 1:00 p.m. today at the Rockland Ferry Terminal, which is located at 517A Main Street in Rockland.
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News Release for August 24, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BANGOR - Penquis and Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP) are receiving $650,462 from the Maine Department of Transportation to improve transportation services across four counties. The funding is provided by the Federal Transit Administration to expand transit options for residents with limited or no transportation options.
Many Maine residents depend on public transportation providers for low-cost, reliable transportation services to access medical care, employment, and other needs. Current public transportation services are limited, however, and the lack of transportation can create barriers to improving economic opportunity, physical and mental health, and quality of life.
This discretionary federal funding comes from the Areas of Persistent Poverty Program - one of the several new discretionary grant programs included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The focus of this specific grant program is to leverage American ingenuity to build modern infrastructure that will benefit underserved communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Grant funds will support software and technology upgrades at Penquis and KVCAP. The two organizations are rural public transit agencies, providing transportation services for individuals in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Kennebec counties. Last year, Penquis and KVCAP served 7,850 people and provided 454,766 rides totaling 8.6 million miles.
"Maine's vast rural geography, our aging population, the high cost of owning a vehicle, and harsh winter weather all create a high demand for community transportation options," says Steven Richard, Penquis Transportation Services Director. "The grant will be used to develop and acquire software that will help expand our region's capacity to meet transportation needs into the future."
Penquis will work with HBSS Connect Corp. to enhance QRyde, a transportation management platform that uses a state-of-the-art Global Scheduling Engine (GSE). The software will increase operational efficiencies through the use of real-time data, enhanced scheduling and dispatching capabilities, and a fare card system to expand payment options for riders. The improvements will enable Penquis and KVCAP to expand capacity and increase the number of individuals accessing reliable, low-cost community transportation. Operational efficiencies will also reduce carbon emissions and minimize pollution, contributing to improved public health.
"Transportation is fundamental, and tough challenges exist in many parts of our mostly rural state," said Bruce Van Note, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. "The team and MaineDOT are proud to work with our local and federal partners to secure funding that will help provide practical solutions to improve public transportation services for our customers in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Kennebec counties."
Penquis has nearly 40 years of experience providing transportation services. Richard says state-of-the-art technology such as HBSS QRyde GSE is essential to the future of transportation.
"We are creating a community transportation model that ensures resources are used to maximize public benefit," says Richard. "The new software capabilities will support a highly efficient system that minimizes costs, increases access to transportation for more people, and improves customer service."
For more information about transportation services available through Penquis and KVCAP, visit www.penquis.org and www.kvcap.org.
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ABOUT PENQUIS: Established in 1967, Penquis is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting Maine families in becoming healthy, safe, connected, and financially secure. Penquis primarily serves individuals with low to moderate income in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties, with several programs extending Penquis's reach across the state. Penquis has more than 75 programs that promote high quality transportation, economic security, housing stability, school readiness and healthy lives. Penquis serves between 3,500 and 5,000 people on any given day and more than 30,000 Maine residents each year.
Additional Media Contact:
Renae Muscatell Community Relations Manager, Penquis (207) 949-4804 (call or text) rmuscatell@penquis.org
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News Release for August 22, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
OXFORD - The Maine Department of Transportation will be reconstructing the intersection of Route 26 and Skeetfield Road in Oxford. This project will create a new entrance to Skeetfield Road and a dedicated right turn lane for traffic heading east. On-site construction activities are scheduled to begin today. During construction, traffic on Skeetfield Road will be restricted to a single lane of alternating traffic between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Route 26. The anticipated completion date of this work is October 31st. The contractor on this project is Pratt & Sons, Inc. of Minot. The contract amount is $1.2 million.
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News Release for August 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
OLD TOWN - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the two Llewellyn Estes Bridges that carry Stillwater Avenue over the Stillwater River in Old Town on Tuesday, August 22nd. This is expected to be a one-day closure that will begin at 6:00 a.m. and end no later than 9:00 p.m. This closure is needed so contracting crews can safely install the crane that will be used to construct a two-lane temporary bridge upstream from the existing bridge this fall. Detour signs will direct traffic from Stillwater Avenue to Route 2A (College Avenue), Route 2 (Main Street), and Route 16 (Bennoch Road) before returning traffic to Stillwater Avenue.
On-site construction work for the temporary bridge began on July 24th. Throughout construction, drivers may encounter lane restrictions to accommodate the delivery of materials and equipment to the job site. Traffic is expected to begin using the temporary bridge by the end of April 2024. This temporary bridge will carry two-way vehicle traffic, a pedestrian sidewalk, and temporary utilities in preparation of the replacement of the existing bridge system.
In early 2022, MaineDOT advertised this bridge replacement project for construction bids. The bridge work was bundled with plans to improve the Bennoch Road (Route 16) and College Avenue (Route 2A) intersections. The low bid on this project was nearly double what the department had budgeted. For this reason, the department rejected all bids on the project and is now pursuing separate contracts for the nearby intersection and highway work and the bridge replacements.
In July 2022, the department imposed a 30-ton weight restriction on the northerly span of the two-bridge system that makes up the Llewellyn Estes Bridge.
Woolwich-based bridge contractor Reed & Reed, Inc. is working with MaineDOT through a Construction Manager/General Contractor design agreement to streamline design and construction activities for the replacement of the two Llewllyn Estes Bridges. The awarded amount for this first phase of construction is $10 million. Additional contracts will be awarded for future phases of the bridge replacement work. A contract for the nearby highway work was awarded to Gordon Contracting of Sangerville on June 29th for $10.9 million. On-site road construction work is expected to begin later this year.
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News Release for August 17, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
VINALHAVEN - An initial inspection of the Captain Richard G. Spear confirms that the hull was not significantly damaged during yesterday's grounding incident off Vinalhaven. The starboard rudder is bent, and the port rudder is missing. This missing rudder may be retrievable by divers given the location of the grounding. Both propellers are damaged. Pictures of the damage are available upon request.
The Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS) does not have an estimated cost of repair or timeline for the Spear to return to service. The Spear was already scheduled to be taken out of service next week for a routine U.S. Coast Guard inspection. It will remain at the Rockland Marine Corporation shipyard for repairs.
The Captain E. Frank Thompson and the Captain Charles Philbrook will operate scheduled ferry runs between Rockland and Vinalhaven until the Spear can return to service.
The MSFS employee who was captaining the Spear during yesterday's incident is a long-time MSFS team member who has experience making the run between Rockland and Vinalhaven.
As is standard with any grounding incident, the U.S. Coast Guard is investigating. The MSFS is cooperating with the investigation.
Original news release from August 16th:
VINALHAVEN - The Captain Richard G. Spear the Maine State Ferry Service vessel that runs between Rockland and Vinalhaven ran aground off the coast of Vinalhaven this morning. The Spear was pulling away from Vinalhaven shortly after 10:30 a.m. when it hit ledge. There were 65 passengers and five crew members aboard at the time of the grounding. No one was injured. The vessel returned to Vinalhaven to unload passengers. The Spear was taken to a private marina in Rockland, where it will be inspected. There does not appear to be any significant damage to the hull of the vessel. As is the case with any grounding incident, the U.S. Coast Guard is investigating. The Maine State Ferry Service is cooperating fully with that investigation. The Thursday ferry runs between Rockland and Vinalhaven that are normally performed by the Spear will be done by the Everett Libby.
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News Release for August 9, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
UPDATE: Route 17 will remain closed to traffic until at least Thursday morning. Crews are still working toward being able to open one lane to traffic.
TOWNSHIP E - Nearly one mile of Route 17 in Township E (between Byron and Rangeley Plantation) in Franklin County is closed because of damage from yesterday's intense rainfall. Maine Department of Transportation crews are on the scene and working to make repairs with the goal of reopening one lane of the road to traffic by the end of the day.
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News Release for August 1, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - Recharge Maine - the state's initiative to develop a statewide network of public, high-speed EV chargers - today announced planned awards of more than $6 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funds authorized by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The planned awards will be used to support development of new chargers at seven sites in locations, such as grocery stores, shopping malls, and gas stations, spanning Bangor, Augusta, and the stretch of U.S. Route 1 between Ellsworth and Freeport.
Planned awards, and the associated locations for the chargers, will go to:
- Equilon Enterprises LLC (Shell); 322 Stillwater Avenue; Bangor
- Tesla, Inc.; 197 Civic Center Drive; Augusta
- ReVision Energy; 225 High Street; Ellsworth
- D&C Properties; 423 East Main Street; Searsport
- Tesla, Inc.; 75 Maverick Street; Rockland
- Irving Oil; 1555 Atlantic Highway; Waldoboro
- Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority; 11 Atlantic Avenue; Brunswick
Through a separate competitive solicitation to deploy funds from the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan (MJRP), Recharge Maine also is announcing today awards to an additional five sites to extend the charging network along the most traveled routes to the Crown of Maine and to the eastern border with New Brunswick.
Awarded bidders using MJRP funds, and the associated locations for the chargers, are:
- Irving Oil; 1941 Medway Road; Medway
- Universal EV LLC; 282 North Street; Houlton
- True Upside Consulting; 5 Clark Siding Road; Ashland
- True Upside Consulting; 162 Houlton Road; Danforth
- Universal EV LLC; 103 Main Street; Machias
Both initiatives aim to have the awarded chargers in operation next year.
"This funding will help expand our state's EV charging network, reducing range anxiety for EV users who live, work, and travel in Maine," said MaineDOT Commissioner, Bruce Van Note. "Increasing electrification of vehicles will help improve our quality of life by reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector."
Today's announcement marks a major step forward in the state's plan to fill gaps and add capacity and reliability to Maine's public fast charging network, as contemplated in the Maine Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment (PEVID) developed by the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) in July 2022. The department has contracted with the Efficiency Maine Trust (Efficiency Maine) to administer the initiative. Over the next several years, Maine will receive approximately $18 million from the NEVI Formula program to fund the development of the state's deployment plan. Currently, a total of 708 Level 2 community plugs and 216 DC high-speed charging plugs are publicly available in Maine. Consumers can find all of these charger locations using the charging station locator on the Efficiency Maine website.
"The sites selected through this competitive bid process will significantly improve the convenience of driving EVs throughout the state," said Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine. "This new infrastructure will give a big boost to the market for a new generation of cars and trucks in Maine."
"In Maine and across the country, President Biden's Investing in America agenda is building the backbone of our national network of EV charging stations that will ensure a seamless experience for drivers when they're charging up - similar payment systems, clear pricing information, interoperable connector types, and reliable charging speeds as we make the historic transition to electric vehicles," said Shailen Bhatt, Federal Highway Administrator. "With .federal investments made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Maine is taking a critical step forward as states across our nation begin deploying EV chargers for the communities they serve, and we are a proud partner with them in this shared project."
"Maine is leading efforts to build a future where everyone can ride and drive electric, starting with plans to electrify the vital I-95 and U.S. 1 corridors," said Gabe Klein, director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. "Maine's efforts are an excellent example of how states can work to advance equity by creating access to lower-cost electrified transportation that also reduces emissions in disproportionately impacted urban communities. Together, we're creating a national charging network that serves - and benefits - all Americans in their own backyards."
About Recharge Maine
Recharge Maine is a statewide initiative to expand the availability of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) on Maine's highways and within communities. Recharge Maine is guided by the strategies and priorities outlined in Maine's Plan for EV Infrastructure Deployment, approved by the FHWA in 2022 and available at https://driveelectric.gov/state-plans/. To date, the initiative has awarded funds for 395 charging ports at 136 locations throughout Maine. That includes 46 DC fast charge (DCFC) ports on the state's Alternative Fuel Corridors and 349 Level 2 (L2) publicly accessible community ports at businesses, municipalities, state agencies, multi-unit dwellings, and other public properties.
About the Maine Department of Transportation
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is the office of state government charged with the regulation and maintenance of roads, rail, ferries, and other public transport infrastructure in the state of Maine.
About Efficiency Maine Trust
The Efficiency Maine Trust (Efficiency Maine) is the independent, quasi-state agency established to plan and implement energy efficiency programs in Maine. Through its suite of nationally recognized programs, Efficiency Maine provides consumer information, marketing support, demonstration pilots, discounts, rebates, loans, and other initiatives to promote high-efficiency equipment and operations that help Maines homes, businesses, and institutions reduce their energy costs and lower their greenhouse gas emissions. Visit www.efficiencymaine.com for more information.
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News Release for July 28, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BLUE HILL - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Falls Bridge in Blue Hill to traffic from Tuesday, August 1st through Friday, August 11th. This closure is part of the ongoing construction to replace the bridge that carries Route 175 over the Salt Bond Outlet. Contractors will be mobilizing a second crane and setting girders and beams during this closure. Traffic will be detoured to Routes 175 and 172. Following this full closure, traffic will go back to using the on-site temporary detour bridge that has been constructed just west of the existing bridge.
On-site work to replace the Falls Bridge began in March 2022. The existing bridge had been in place since 1926. The concrete arch structure on stacked granite abutments is being replaced using the existing abutments and a concrete structure that will have arched facia panels on both ocean and salt pond sides. All work is schedule to be finished in June 2024.
The contractor on this project is Cianbro Corporation of Pittsfield. The contract amount is $9,456,460.00
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News Release for July 28, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
PORTLAND/SOUTH PORTLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation will be replacing the last of four span locks on the Casco Bay Bridge on Wednesday, August 2nd. This work will require a traffic restriction on the bridge. Vehicles weighing more than 25 tons (50,000 pounds) will not be permitted to cross the bridge between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. In the case of rain, this work will be pushed to Thursday, August 3rd. MaineDOT will also use message boards to alert drivers of the temporary weight restriction.
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News Release for July 27, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BIDDEFORD - The Maine Department of Transportation is assisting the City of Biddeford with emergency culvert repair work. The culvert was damaged during a storm on May 1st. This work requires the closure of the Biddeford Connector between Route 111 and Morin Street. Work began yesterday and is scheduled to continue through Friday, August 11th.
Detour routes are marked. Drivers exiting the Maine Turnpike at Exit 32 who want to access Route 1 should turn left and follow detour signs to Edwards Avenue. Drivers who want to access the Maine Turnpike from Route 1 should take Cole Road to Edwards Avenue and turn left onto Route 111.
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News Release for July 26, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BRUNSWICK/TOPSHAM - The Maine Department of Transportation has begun on-site construction on the project to replace the Frank J. Wood Bridge. The bridge carries Route 201 over the Androscoggin River between Brunswick and Topsham.
The existing bridge is more than 90 years old. It is fracture critical and rated in poor condition. Since November 2021, MaineDOT has prohibited all commercial traffic from using the current bridge. While bridges are normally inspected every two years, the Frank J. Wood bridge is inspected every six months to allow for more frequent analysis of its condition and the potential need for further traffic or weight restrictions.
The replacement bridge will improve safety and reliability for the surrounding communities. The new bridge will be located on a curved upstream alignment and will feature enhancements requested by a local design advisory committee. Designed to last for at least 100 years, the new bridge will have sidewalks on both sides (including pedestrian viewing bump-outs), wider shoulders on both sides, parks on both ends, special railings, lighting and other design details, and unobstructed views of the natural and architectural features of the surrounding Pejepscot Falls site.
Subject to inspections and restrictions of the existing bridge, the new bridge project is not expected to have any significant impacts to motorists until 2025. If the work proceeds as planned, all work associated with the construction contract is scheduled to be finished in late 2026, but the new bridge is expected to be open to traffic earlier than that.
The contractor on this project is Reed & Reed, Inc. of Woolwich. The contract amount is $49,869,767.
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News Release for July 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
CUSHING - Two Maine Department of Transportation employees were seriously injured at a job site in Cushing this morning. The workers were part of a crew that was retrieving sheet piles near the intersection of River Road and Pleasant Point Road. The incident happened at approximately 8:00 a.m. The workers were pinned between an excavator and a flat-bed trailer. Both workers were transported to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport. They are currently in stable condition.
The safety of our employees and the traveling public is always MaineDOT's primary concern. The department has reported the incident to the Maine Department of Labor, which has jurisdiction over incidents at state job sites, and is working with the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
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News Release for July 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Ticonic Bridge to all traffic from 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6th until 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 12th. This is part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge, which carries Bridge Street (Routes 137 and 201) over the Kennebec River between Waterville and Winslow. During this closure, vehicle traffic will be detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. Pedestrian traffic will be detoured north to the Two Cent Bridge.
While eastbound vehicle traffic will be allowed back on the bridge on Saturday, August 12th, westbound vehicle traffic will remain prohibited from the bridge for a period of approximately three years. This is being done to allow the contractor to build the upstream half of the new bridge. Westbound vehicle traffic will continue to be detoured south to the Carter Memorial Bridge. Pedestrian traffic will continue to be detoured north to the Two Cent Bridge until the upstream half of the new bridge is complete, which is scheduled to be in April 2025.
We understand that these detours are disruptive. We thank the traveling public for their patience and understanding while we work on this important project.
The current Ticonic Bridge's concrete arch dates to the early 20th century, when the bridge carried a trolley line. Other sections of the bridge were replaced in 1936 after a flood washed away the original steel truss. The bridge was further widened in 1970. The current bridge is more than 100 years old and has deteriorated to the point that the end of its useful life is near. Further attempts to repair or rehabilitate it will not restore the full integrity of the bridge to meet modern safety needs.
The new bridge is being constructed on the same alignment as the current one. The new structure will be a two-span bridge with a single concrete pier in the river. The bridge will be made of steel girders with a concrete bridge deck. Like the existing bridge, the new bridge will carry five lanes of traffic. The new structure will also feature widened shoulders and include sidewalks on both sides. Replacing the Ticonic Bridge with an improved structure that will provide long-term reliability will greatly enhance other infrastructure investments being made in Waterville by the city and Colby College.
The new Ticonic Bridge is scheduled to open to both eastbound and westbound traffic along with pedestrian traffic in September 2026. All contract work is scheduled to be complete by May 2027.
The contractor on this project is Cianbro of Pittsfield. The contract amount is $52.85 million. This project is the recipient of a 2020 Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $25 million.
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News Release for July 14, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
YARMOUTH - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the southbound side of I-295 in Yarmouth during several overnight periods during the next two weeks to accommodate paving work. This is part of the project to replace the interstate bridges that carry I-295 over Route 1 near Exit 17 in Yarmouth.
The I-295 southbound closures will occur between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on the nights of Wednesday, July 19th and Thursday, July 20th. Similar closures will happen the following week from the night of Sunday, July 23rd through Thursday, July 27th. During these interstate closures, traffic will be detoured off I-295 at the Exit 17 off-ramp, across Route 1, and back onto the interstate at the Exit 17 on-ramp. Flaggers will be present to help direct traffic. Like all outdoor construction work, this schedule is dependent on the weather.
The contractor on this project is CPM Constructors of Freeport. The contract amount is $27,566,210. This project is the recipient of federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Competitive Highway Bridge Program. On-site construction work began in late 2021 and is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2025.
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News Release for July 13, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
PORTLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation is repainting two bridges on I-295 in Portland: Tukey's Bridge carries the interstate over Back Cove, and Franklin Bridge carries the interstate over Franklin Street. Crews will be removing the old paint from both bridges (stripping it down to the steel) and then reapplying three new coats of paint to each bridge. This routine maintenance work will help extend the lives of these critical bridges. This project will involve periodic overnight lane closures of I-295 while crews set up and break down their equipment. Pedestrians using the walking path under Tukey's Bridge may experience delays (no more than five minutes) while crews install equipment for painting the bridge. These pedestrian impacts are only expected during the first two weeks of the project and the last two weeks of the project. Work began this week and is scheduled to be finished in October or November. The contractor on the job is Saffo Contractors, Inc. from Wilmington, North Carolina. The contract amount on this project is $2,956,500.
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News Release for July 7, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
PORTLAND/SOUTH PORTLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing maintenance work on the Casco Bay Bridge next week. This work will require a traffic restriction on the bridge. Vehicles weighing more than 25 tons (50,000 pounds) will not be permitted to cross the bridge from Monday, July 10th through Thursday, July 13th. This restriction will be in place around the clock on these days. MaineDOT will also use message boards to alert drivers of the temporary weight restriction. Like all outside construction work, this schedule is weather-dependent.
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News Release for July 6, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ANDROSCOGGIN AND OXFORD COUNTIES - The Maine Department of Transportation is doing paving work and making other improvements along parts of routes 4 and 108 in Livermore, Hartford, and Canton. The Route 4 project area begins north of Mangan Road in Livermore and extends north for three miles. The Route 108 project area begins at Route 4 in Livermore and extends north for 7.5 miles, ending in Canton. Driver may encounter single-lane, alternative traffic patterns. Work began on July 5th and is scheduled to be finished by September 21st. The contractor on this project is All States Asphalt of Richmond. The contract amount is $2,826,968.
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News Release for June 30, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WILTON - Maine Department of Transportation crews and contracting partners have been working since last night to respond to road washouts caused by yesterday's intense rainfall. This work will continue into the holiday weekend. The damage is especially severe along parts of Route 133 in Jay and Wilton. This road may remain closed for several days.
MaineDOT is working closely with MEMA and other appropriate state agencies to reopen these roads as soon as practicable. We appreciate the public's patience and understanding as our crews do this important work.
MaineDOT Director of Communications Paul Merrill will be holding a media availability at 3:00 p.m. today at the department's Region 3 office. The address is 932 U.S. Route 2 East in Wilton. MaineDOT expect to be able to provide pictures and drone video of some of the impacted areas.
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News Release for June 21, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WISCASSET - The Maine Department of Transportation will be replacing the railroad crossing on Route 1 in Wiscasset next week. This work will require the closure of Route 1 at Federal Street and Eddy Road from 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 26th until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 27th. Signs will direct drivers to a detour using Federal Street, Route 218, and Sheepscott Road. The contractor on this project is Maine Track Maintenance of Waterville. The contract amount is approximately $80,000.
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News Release for June 12, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
SEARSPORT - The Maine Department of Transportation is beginning work on a project that involves rehabilitation and reconstruction of Route 1 in downtown Searsport.
The work area begins at Savage Road and extends north for nearly two miles to Station Avenue. The project involves the addition of a center left-turn lane between Trundy Road and Station Avenue. This work will also involve eliminating gaps in sidewalks to create a continuous accessible route downtown for pedestrians. MaineDOT is working with the town to install pedestrian lighting and brick sidewalks.
The on-site construction work is beginning today and will continue until work is suspended for the winter - no later than November. From June 15th until October 15th of this year, southbound traffic will be detoured onto Black, Union, and Mortland Roads.
Project work will resume in spring 2024. There will be a longer south bound traffic detour, involving Mortland, Old County, and Prospect Roads. That longer detour is expected to run from March 1st, 2024 to October 15th, 2024.
The anticipated construction completion date for all work in June of 2025.
The contractor on this project is Gordon Contractors of Sangerville. The contract amount is $17,758,548. This project is recipient of $9.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending.
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News Release for June 9, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
CORNISH/HIRAM - The Maine Department of Transportation will be rehabilitating the Hiram Bridge, which carries Bridge Street over the Ossipee River between Cornish and Hiram. Some elements of the bridge are experiencing advanced deterioration. The bridge is currently posted at 22 tons. Rehabilitation work will extend the life of the bridge and may allow for a less-restrictive bridge posting. This work will require the bridge to be closed to traffic from June 14th until August 25th. Detoured traffic should use Durgintown Road and South Hiram Road. The detour length is approximately five miles. Before and after the bridge closure, drivers may encounter a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern until September 30th. All on-site construction work is expected to be finished by September 30th. The contractor on this project is CPM Constructors of Freeport. The contract amount is $493,145.
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News Release for June 9, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ANDROSCOGGIN AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work and making other improvements along nearly 11 miles of Routes 122 and 26 in Auburn, New Gloucester, Poland, and Mechanic Falls. The project area begins where Route 122 meets Route 100/4 in Auburn. It runs along Route 122, through New Gloucester, until it meets Route 26 in Poland. The project area then extends north just past the intersection of Routes 26 and 11 in Mechanic Falls. Work is scheduled to begin on June 12th and be finished by September 30th. Drivers may encounter a one-way, alternating traffic pattern during some construction periods. The contractor on this project is Pratt & Sons, Inc. of Minot. The contract amount is $4,259,257.
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News Release for June 8, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
NORWAY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work on Route 117 in Norway. The project area begins 0.8 miles north of the Otisfield town line and extends north for approximately three miles to the intersection of Routes 117 and 118. Work is scheduled to begin on June 9th and be completed by July 14th. Drivers may encounter a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern during daytime hours. The contractor on this project is Pratt & Sons, Inc. of Minot. The contract amount is $875,000.
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News Release for June 5, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ROCKLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation is pleased to announce that William Geary, Jr. is the new Director of the Maine State Ferry Service.
Born on Vinalhaven, Bill is a 1998 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, where he earned an Unlimited 3rd Mate's license. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for six years and was involved in the Kosovo Campaign.
Bill has nearly two decades of experience managing retail operations for a Fortune 200 company. In these roles, he oversaw hundreds of employees spread out across several New England states and was constantly focused on customer service.
He earned his MBA from the University of Maine at Orono in 2004.
"I am confident our Maine State Ferry Service customers will be in good hands with Bill Geary," said MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note. "His island heritage and maritime education will serve Maine's island communities well. Additionally, Bill's experience in customer service, business management, and human resources set him apart during our search process."
"I am excited to be part of the Maine State Ferry Service and back to my roots in both the islands and the maritime industry," said Geary. "I look forward to being a great steward to the islands and ensuring strong customer service for all who ride our vessels."
Bill currently lives in Gray with his two children, Nate and Kate.
His first day at the Maine State Ferry Service was May 22nd.
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News Release for June 2, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
MADAWASKA - The Maine Department of Transportation will be conducting its annual inspection of the International Bridge between Madawaska, Maine and Edmundston, New Brunswick next week. This work will require the full closure of the bridge to vehicle traffic between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday, June 5th through Saturday, June 10th. The sidewalk will remain open. Any additional inspection work after these dates is not expected to impact vehicle traffic.
The current International Bridge is 102 years old and rapidly deteriorating. A five-ton weight limit has been in place since 2017. A new bridge is currently under construction upstream from the existing structure. The new bridge is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of this year.
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News Release for May 26, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
OXFORD COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work on approximately 13 mils of Route 5/113 in Oxford County. The project area begins north of Route 117 in Hiram and extends north, through Brownfield, ending south of Pine Street in Fryeburg. Work is scheduled to begin on May 30th and be completed by July 28th. The contractor on this project is Glidden Excavating & Paving, Inc. of Gorham. The contract amount is $2,112,394.
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News Release for May 26, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
PENOBSCOT COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be making pavement improvements in various locations on both the northbound and southbound sides of I-95 between Old Town and Medway in Penobscot County. Work is scheduled to begin on May 30th and be complete by June 23rd. Drivers may encounter reduced lanes and speeds. The contractor on this project is Indus of Braintree, MA. The contract amount is $470,755.
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News Release for May 22, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
TRENTON - Today, the Maine Department of Transportation joined with local, state, and federal partners from both the public and private sectors to celebrate the beginning of construction on the new Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton.
This project represents the culmination of years of partnering and planning to create a welcome center and transit hub for Downeast Maine and Acadia National Park. Once completed, the Acadia Gateway Center will serve as a location where visitors can access regional tourism information, purchase park entrance passes, and connect with transit options to help them explore the region car-free. This project will incorporate several sustainability features, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, a rooftop solar panel array, and electric vehicle charging stations.
"Partnerships and perseverance pay off," said Bruce Van Note, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. "The team at MaineDOT is proud to be delivering this long-awaited project. We are grateful to our partners at the Federal Transit Administration, the National Park Service, Friends of Acadia, and Downeast Transportation. Not only will the Acadia Gateway Center enhance the experiences of the millions of visitors who come to this region every year, but also it will have long-lasting economic and sustainability impacts on the Downeast region."
The new Acadia Gateway Center is being constructed on a site in Trenton that sits between Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island; its location was designed to intercept traffic traveling south on Route 3 before arriving onto Mount Desert Island.
"The Town of Trenton is pleased to see the completion of this project," said Fred Ehrlenbach, First Selectman for the Town of Trenton. "The permitting of the Acadia Gateway Center and the Downeast Transportation facility is the result of collaboration between MaineDOT and the town. Hopefully, the visitors and locals alike will take advantage of this free transportation service."
With nearly four million visits, Acadia National Park was the fifth most visited national park in 2022. According to a recent report by the Maine Office of Tourism, visitors to Downeast Maine (including Acadia) had an economic impact of more than $1.5 billion last year.
"National Parks are a popular destination for travelers, and as one of the most visited, Acadia is a major draw for travel to Maine," said Steve Lyons, Director of the Maine Office of Tourism. "The new transportation hub in Trenton will improve the visitor experience with expanded park access and information about regional and statewide attractions."
Current construction represents the final two phases of work that began more than 20 years ago. The first phase, completed in 2012, included the construction of a park-and-ride lot as well as office space and a bus maintenance facility for Downeast Transportation, which operates the Island Explorer shuttle.
"First enshrined in a memorandum of understanding among 20 partners in 1999, completion of the Acadia Gateway Center marks the realization of Island Explorer's Phase 3 and the culmination of a quarter century of planning, partnership, and perseverance," said Paul Murphy, Executive Director of Downeast Transportation, Inc. "We stand on the shoulders of visionaries, too many of whom are gone and unable to see the ultimate fruit of their great work, for which we are unspeakably grateful."
The Friends of Acadia began working on this project with the other partners in 2002. In 2007, FOA purchased the land being used for the park-and-ride lot, bus maintenance facility, and welcome center and sold it to MaineDOT. The group has remained a partner throughout planning efforts and is funding part of the Acadia Gateway Center construction.
"Thank you to all of the donors who helped make this exciting project possible," said Eric Stiles, President & CEO of Friends of Acadia. "The Acadia Gateway Center is critically important infrastructure to help ensure that Acadia's visitors have a positive experience. With park visitation on the rise, it will reduce traffic congestion by providing vital opportunities for a car-free experience in the park."
In addition to private support from Friends of Acadia and public support from MaineDOT, the National Park Service and Federal Transit Administration are also providing funding for the Acadia Gateway Center.
"The Acadia Gateway Center will transform how visitors experience Acadia National Park and the surrounding communities by improving access to regional tourism information and the Island Explorer bus system," said Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider. "We are incredibly grateful to MaineDOT, the Federal Transit Administration, the Town of Trenton, and Friends of Acadia for making this idea a reality."
"The Federal Transit Administration is proud to support the Acadia Gateway Center, which will provide an easy jumping-off point for the millions of annual visitors to the park and encourage people to leave their cars behind," said FTA Regional Administrator Peter Butler. "FTA's support of this well-thought-out project is part of our work to continue to make better travel experiences, improve air quality, and take a bite out of climate change."
"Many of my favorite family memories have been made in Maine's great outdoors," said Senator Angus King, Chairman of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee. "When someone asks me what they should do on their trip to Maine, I always tell them to get outside, and there are few better places to do it than Acadia National Park. The new Acadia Gateway Center is an excellent example of how the federal and state governments can work together with local organizations to expand opportunities for the park and its surrounding communities. This transportation hub will streamline the visitor experience, reduce road congestion for the people lucky enough to live here, and protect the lands so people can continue to enjoy them for years. I'm grateful to Acadia's partners for their continued work on this project to keep our outdoors open and accessible."
In March, MaineDOT awarded the Acadia Gateway Center construction contract to Nickerson & O'Day of Brewer for $27.7 million. On-site construction work started in early May. The project is scheduled to be finished by May 2025.
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News Release for May 19, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
CLINTON - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the I-95 Exit 138 on- and off-ramps in Clinton for two nights early next week to accommodate paving work. The ramps will be closed from 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 21st until 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 22nd and from 9:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22nd until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23rd. Detour routes will be marked by signage.
This is part of a project that involves doing paving work and making other drainage and safety improvements on both sides of I-95 between Waterville and Pittsfield. The contractor on this project is Northeast Paving of Hermon. The contract amount is $11,819,411.
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News Release for May 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
TRENTON - On Monday, the Maine Department of Transportation will join with local, state, and federal partners from both the public and private sectors to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton.
This project represents the culmination of years of partnering and planning to create a welcome center and transit hub to service Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Once completed, the Acadia Gateway Center will serve as a location where visitors can access park information, purchase park entrance passes, and connect with transit options to help them explore the region car-free. This project will incorporate several sustainability features, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, a rooftop solar panel array, and electric vehicle charging stations.
WHO:
Bruce Van Note - Commissioner, Maine Department of Transportation
Fred Ehrlenbach - First Selectman, Town of Trenton
Hannah Collins - Deputy Director, Maine Office of Tourism
Paul Murphy - Executive Director, Downeast Transportation, Inc.
Eric Stiles - President & CEO, Friends of Acadia
Kevin Schneider - Superintendent, Acadia National Park Superintendent
Peter Butler - Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration
Sen. Angus King
WHAT:
Press conference at site of construction of the new Acadia Gateway Center
Project renderings available
WHERE:
Future Site of Acadia Gateway Center
Gateway Center Drive
Trenton, Maine
WHEN:
Monday, May 22nd
1:00 p.m.
Please arrive at the Trenton Park & Ride lot on Gateway Center Drive by noon. Island Explorer shuttles will bring attendees to the event site.
Be advised the event will take place at an active construction site. Please wear appropriate footwear.
Following the event, please join us for a reception at the Downeast Transportation facility at 117 Gateway Center Drive.
Island Explorer shuttles will be available to bring attendees back from the event site.
In the event of rain, all events will take place at the Downeast Transportation facility at 117 Gateway Center Drive.
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News Release for May 16, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
GRAY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be making drainage improvements on part of Depot Road in Gray. The project area is less than half a mile - running along Depot Road from east of the railroad tracks to Town Farm Road. Crews will be installing catch basins and culverts, reconstructing shoulders, and paving the road. This work is scheduled to begin on May 17th and be finished by June 5th. Drivers should expect a one-way alternating traffic pattern during construction. The contractor on this project is A.H. Grover Inc. of North Yarmouth. The contract amount is $557,905.
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News Release for May 12, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WATERVILLE TO PITTSFIELD - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work and making other drainage and safety improvements on both sides of I-95 between Waterville and Pittsfield. The work area goes from the Webb Road Bridge in Waterville to the Johnson Flat Road overpass in Pittsfield on the northbound side and from Exit 130 to the Webb Road Bridge in Waterville on the southbound side. The project also involves the weigh station in Pittsfield on the northbound side. Work is scheduled to begin on May 14th and be finished by June 25th. Most work is expected to be night work. Drivers should expect lane restrictions. The contractor on this project is Northeast Paving of Hermon. The contract amount is $11,819,411.
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News Release for May 12, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
HARTLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work and making drainage and safety improvements on Route 152 in Hartland. The project area begins north of Ford Hill Road and extends north for nearly 1.5 miles. Work is scheduled to start on May 15th and be finished by June 30th. Drivers should expect a single-lane, alternating traffic pattern. The contractor on this project is Hopkins Paving of Hermon. The contract amount is $1.2 million
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News Release for May 12, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
KITTERY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work and making other drainage and safety improvements on Route 1 in Kittery. The project area runs approximately two miles between Adams Drive and Lewis Road. Work is scheduled to begin on May 14th and be finished by June 30th. Drivers may encounter lane shifts, lane restrictions, and alternating one-way traffic patterns controlled by flaggers. Most work will take place overnight between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. to minimize delays and impacts. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries, Inc. of Fairfield. The contract amount is $4,337,465.
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News Release for May 12, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
PITTSFIELD TO FAIRFIELD - The Maine Department of Transportation is doing paving work and making other safety improvements along a 16-mile-long stretch of the southbound side of I-95 from Pittsfield to Fairfield. The project area begins at the Exit 150 interchange in Pittsfield and ends at the Kennebec River in Fairfield. Work began this week and is scheduled to be finished by August 1st. Drivers should expect permanent lane closures between now and June 23rd. After June 23rd, the contractor will only be allowed overnight lane closures from Sunday nights through Saturday mornings beginning at 7:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00 a.m. the following day. The contractor on this project is Northeast Paving of Hermon. The contract amount is $5,941,831.
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News Release for May 10, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
GARDINER/RICHMOND - The Maine Department of Transportation will be doing paving work on Route 201 in Gardiner and Richmond. The project area begins at the intersection with Route 197 in Richmond and extends northeast for approximately six miles. Work is scheduled to begin on May 15th and be finished by July 1st. Drivers should expect daily lane closures during daytime hours on Mondays through Saturdays. The contractor on this project is Northeast Paving of Lewiston, and the contract amount is $1.2 million.
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News Release for May 10, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
SOMERSET COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation is doing road construction and paving work on Route 2 in Pittsfield and Palmyra. The project area begins near Pooler Road in Pittsfield and extends east for nine miles, ending at the Newport town line. Drivers should expect Route 2 to be reduced to a single lane on weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. This project started on May 8th and is scheduled to be completed by July 1st. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries. The contract amount is $3,689,000.
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News Release for May 9, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BATH - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing an inspection of the Sagadahoc Bridge next week - from May 15th to May 19th. This bridge carries Route 1 over the Kennebec River between Bath and Woolwich. The Federal Highway Administration requires this inspection be completed at least every two years. This is a scheduled inspection to meet that requirement. This inspection work will impact traffic. There will be right lane and shoulder closures between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. each day to allow space for the equipment used to inspect under the bridge. Message Boards will be in place to provide notice for the traveling public.
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News Release for May 5, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
FALMOUTH - As part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge that carries Bucknam Road over I-295 in Falmouth, the Maine Department of Transportation will be performing intermittent rolling closures of I-295 at Exit 10 on four separate nights next week. Each rolling closure will last no longer than 25 minutes. Please expect multiple rolling closures each night. These rolling closures will occur between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. These closures are required to accommodate the installation of structural steel bridge girders. Maine State Police will assist MaineDOT. The department will also be using message boards to alert drivers of the closures. During the rolling closures, northbound interstate traffic will use Exit 9, and southbound interstate traffic will use Exit 10. Additionally, the Bucknam Road Bridge will be closed between the northbound and southbound exit ramp intersections during the overnight hours (between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.
This is part of an ongoing project to replace the bridges that carry Bucknam Road and Johnson Road over I-295 in Falmouth. The work on Bucknam Road began last year and will continue into 2024. On-site work on Johnson Road is expected to begin in late 2024. The estimated completion date for both bridge replacement projects is December 12th, 2025.
The contractor on this project is Wyman & Simpson, Inc. of Richmond. The contract amount is $19,574,460.
We appreciate the public's continued patience regarding these interstate closures.
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News Release for May 3, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - The GO MAINE statewide travel resource and trip-reduction program is excited to launch 2023's first Way 2 GO MAINE Commuter Challenge. This friendly competition between Maine residents, organizations, and employers encourages everyone to walk, bike, carpool/vanpool, take the bus, ride the ferry, take the train, or work from home. Grand prizes include a Maine State Park vehicle pass, a $200 gift card, a National Park pass, and two bike shop gift cards.
Since 2017, the Way 2 GO MAINE challenge has highlighted green trip options and recognized commuters around the state for their commitment to improving air quality and taking miles off Maine's roads. Now with challenges in May and October, Way 2 GO MAINE builds awareness for active and green commutes while rewarding residents who contribute to reducing single-occupancy vehicle travel.
Throughout May, Maine residents (and commuters who work in Maine) can log green trips at gomaine.org or through the app for a chance to win a $50 gift card every week. Members are encouraged to share photos on social media using #Way2GOMAINE! or by emailing rides@gomaine.org. Each week, a different green commute trip will be featured; members logging that week's trip type will automatically be entered to win. Weekly themes are:
- May 1-6 - Carpool & Vanpool
- May 7-13 - Transit (bus, ferry, train)
- May 14-20 - Active Transportation (bike, walk, roll, scooter)
- May 21-31 - Transportation Climate Action (every green trip counts!)
GO MAINE is free to join! Plus, new members who join during Way 2 GO MAINE will be entered to win a $100 gift card.
For more details on Way 2 GO MAINE, visit gomaine.org/way-2-go-maine/faq/.
GO MAINE is a program of the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority. All GO MAINE programs and services are free. More information on the GO MAINE program can be found at gomaine.org. Organizations interested in organizing their own GO MAINE program are welcome to contact Emily Becker, Program Manager, at emily@gomaine.org.
ADDITIONAL MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily Becker
GO MAINE Program Manager
857-383-3808
emily@gomaine.org
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News Release for May 2, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WESTBROOK - The Maine Department of Transportation is doing paving work on part of Route 25 in Westbrook. The project area begins near Larrabee Road and continues northwest along Route 25 for approximately one mile, ending near Captain Bill Hartley Avenue. The work is paving work with safety and drainage improvements. Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout the duration of this project, but drivers should expect lane closures. There will also be sidewalk closures. Work began on May 1st and is scheduled to be completed by September 7th. The contractor for this project is Shaw Brothers Construction of Gorham. The contact amount is $2,657,543.
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News Release for April 27, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
YARMOUTH - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the I-295 Exit 15 northbound off-ramp overnight on Thursday to make pavement repairs. The ramp will be closed from 8:00 p.m. on April 27th until 6:00 a.m. on April 28th.
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News Release for April 21, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BANGOR - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing an inspection of the bridge on I-395 over Main Street in Bangor on the evening of Tuesday, April 25th. Work will start at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to be finished before the morning commute on Wednesday, April 26th. Drivers should expect frequent lanes changes and exit ramp closures during the inspection. During the first phase, the Exit 3A eastbound on ramp (from Town Farm Road) will be closed for a several hours. During the second phase, the Exit 3 westbound on ramp will be closed. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and pay attention to construction signs. This work is being done in advance of a bridge joint repair project. As is the case with all outdoor construction work, this schedule may change based on weather conditions.
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News Release for April 21, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
YARMOUTH - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the I-295 Exit 15 northbound off-ramp overnight on Wednesday to make pavement repairs. The ramp will be closed from 8:00 p.m. on April 26th until 6:00 a.m. on April 27th.
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News Release for April 20, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
KITTERY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing an inspection of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge from April 24th to April 28th. This lift bridge carries the Route 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River between Kittery, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Federal Highway Administration requires this inspection be completed at least every two years. This is a scheduled inspection to meet that requirement. This inspection work will impact traffic.
There will be a lane shift in place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for the duration of the inspection. In addition, there will be periodic full closures of the bridge between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 24th and Tuesday, April 25th. During these two days, we expect at least four full closures. Each closure will be limited to no longer than 90 minutes. Traffic will be detoured to the Memorial Bridge or the Piscataqua River (I-95) Bridge during bridge closures.
The lift span will be operated over the course of the week at non-peak travel times for the purpose of inspection of the mechanical and electrical components. These operations will not detour traffic and will be similar to a bridge lift for ship passage.
Hardesty and Hanover of Yarmouth will be conducting this inspection. The cost of the work is $138,949.
This schedule may change due to weather conditions.
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News Release for April 19, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
BRUNSWICK/TOPSHAM - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing a bridge inspection of the Frank J. Wood Bridge between Tuesday, April 25th and Thursday, April 27th. This bridge carries Route 201 between Brunswick and Topsham. Because of the poor condition of the fracture critical Frank J. Wood Bridge, MaineDOT engineers inspect it every six months instead of the normal every 24 month frequency. Construction of a new bridge will begin later this spring.
This inspection work will impact traffic. Drivers should expect impacts between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on all three days. Southbound traffic moving from Topsham to Brunswick will be able to cross the bridge. Northbound traffic from Brunswick to Topsham will be detoured to the Topsham Bypass and Route 196.
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News Release for April 19, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
ELIOT - The Maine Department of Transportation will be replacing a culvert on Route 103 in Eliot. MaineDOT crews will be replacing an aging 18-inch culvert with a larger 24-inch one. This work requires the full closure of part of Route 103 from 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25th until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26th. The closure area is between Harold L. Dow Highway (Route 236) and Worcester Road, approximately 1/4 mile east of the intersection with Harold L. Dow Highway. Detoured traffic should use Dow Highway, Beech Road, and State Road in Eliot. MaineDOT has set up message boards to notify drivers of the closure and detours.
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News Release for April 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WEST GARDINER - National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is being observed from Monday, April 17th through Friday, April 21st, 2023. Since 2000, NWZAW has highlighted the deadly dangers of inattention at highway work areas. The theme of this year's nationwide observance is, "You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us."
Every year, Maine averages more than 500 crashes and two fatalities in work zones. In 2022, our state experienced 541 work zone crashes, resulting in 164 injuries and two deaths. While these numbers encompass all crashes that took place in areas designated as work zones, they represent incidents that occurred in proximity to areas where crews may be working near traffic. Historically, the leading causes of work zone crashes are drivers following too closely, being distracted, and failing to yield.
Today, the Maine Turnpike Authority, Maine Department of Transportation, Maine State Police, Associated General Contractors of Maine, and AAA Northern New England joined together in West Gardiner to highlight the importance of driving safely in work zones.
"Traffic volumes on the Maine Turnpike are back to pre-pandemic levels, and in some cases, they are higher than they were in 2019," said Peter Merfeld, Chief Operations Office for the Maine Turnpike Authority. "The speed of drivers through our work zones is too high. Slowing down and remaining alert when driving through a work zone helps ensure that our crews and our contracting partners make it home safely at the end of each day."
"Work zone safety is a priority for MaineDOT and our contracting partners," said Shawn Smith, Senior Project Manager for MaineDOT. "Work zones are meant to provide crews a safe work area. They are also meant to provide a safe route for travelers to pass through work areas. Driver behavior is critical part of a safe, successful, and efficient work zone formula. Driving with attention, with courtesy, with patience, and at the advisory speed limit helps everyone arrive at their destinations and our crews return home safely at the end of their shifts."
Sgt. Jodell Wilkinson of the Maine State Police said, "Every day, law enforcement officers, highway crews, and tow truck drivers work within inches of people's vehicles, and every day, we see drivers not paying attention, putting their lives at risk as well as ours. Work zones need a driver's undivided attention. Motorists should be alert, slow down, and move over if possible. Risky driving behavior puts us all at risk."
Kelly Flagg, Executive Director of Associated General Contractors of Maine, said, "Construction crews are entering another busy season of improving our state highways and roads. We need every single driver to help us by slowing down in work zones, putting down phones, and paying attention. The combination of speed and distracted driving is constantly on our minds in the construction industry. While we can continue adding new technology, signs, and improvements to keep our workers safe, we are pleading with the public to help us this construction season. Nothing is more important than ensuring every worker can go home at night to see his or her family."
"The AAA Foundation for Traffic recently surveyed tow truck workers, emergency responders, and road maintenance workers and found that 60 percent of those surveyed had experienced a near miss while working on the roadside, while 15 percent had survived being hit by a passing vehicle," said Pat Moody, Manager of Public Affairs & Government Affairs with AAA Northern New England. "As motorists, we need to keep our brains and eyes active when approaching and navigating through work zones and around roadside emergencies. Slow down, move over, and stay alert."
Members of the public are encouraged to wear orange on Wednesday, April 19th to raise awareness about work zone safety.
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News Release for April 14, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WEST GARDINER - National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) will be observed from Monday, April 17th through Friday, April 21st, 2023. For more than two decades, NWZAW has highlighted the deadly dangers of inattention at highway work areas. The theme of this year's nationwide observance is, "You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us."
On Tuesday, April 18th, the Maine Turnpike Authority, Maine Department of Transportation, Maine State Police, Associated General Contractors of Maine, and AAA Northern New England will participate in a press conference at the Maine Turnpike Authority's maintenance facility in West Gardiner. Speakers will highlight the importance of driving safely in work zones.
As a reminder, motorists are encouraged to slow to posted speed limits, eliminate distractions while driving, and be watchful for roadway workers and their equipment.
We are also encouraging everyone to wear orange on Wednesday, April 19th to raise awareness about work zone safety. Orange traffic cone pins will be available at Tuesday's press conference.
WHO:
Peter Merfeld - Maine Turnpike Authority
Shawn Smith - Maine Department of Transportation
Sgt. Jodell Wilkinson - Maine State Police
Kelly Flagg - Associated General Contractors of Maine
Pat Moody - AAA Northern New England
WHAT:
Interviews and information about work zone safety
WHERE:
Maine Turnpike Authority, West Gardiner Maintenance Facility
199 Lewiston Rd.
West Gardiner, Maine
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 18th
11:00 a.m.
ADDITIONAL MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Grover - Maine Turnpike Authority
207-838-6795
rgrover@maineturnpike.com
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News Release for April 10, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
LEVANT - The Maine Department of Transportation experienced a culvert failure in Levant on Saturday, April 8th. The culvert that failed allows the Black Stream to pass under Lake Road in Levant. While the culvert that failed is nearly 40 years old, it had not been showing any immediate signs of potential failure and was listed in fair condition. The culvert is a MaineDOT asset, but the road is a town road that serves approximately 500 vehicles on an average day.
The department is beginning design work to replace this culvert with either a new culvert or a bridge. This project was already scheduled in our current three-year Work Plan. We will do our best to expedite what work we can, but Lake Road is not expected to reopen until 2024 or 2025. There is a local detour that is approximately six miles long. MaineDOT apologizes for the inconvenience this will cause local drivers.
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News Release for April 6, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WOODSTOCK - The Maine Department of Transportation is conducting the final phase of a multi-year road construction project on part of Route 26 in Woodstock. The work area begins just east of Rumford Avenue and extends west for approximately 2.5 miles. This project involves highway rehabilitation, the installation of a box culvert, and various other drainage and safety improvements.
This latest phase of work began on April 3rd. During the next few months, drivers should expect single-lane closures with an alternating, one-way traffic pattern. The project started in February 2021 and is scheduled to be finished by this July.
The contractor on this project is Gordon Contracting of Sangerville. The contract amount is $9,940,746.
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News Release for April 4, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
SOUTH BERWICK - The Maine Department of Transportation is making traffic and safety improvements on the intersection of Routes 236 and 91 in South Berwick. The work involves improving turn lanes on Route 236, adding traffic signals, and making drainage improvements. Work began on March 28th and is scheduled to be completed on December 1st. Drivers should expect a single-lane traffic pattern during this work. Wide loads will be prohibited. The contractor on this project is R.J. Grondin & Sons of Gorham. The contract amount is $3,328,795.
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News Release for March 27, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WATERVILLE/WINSLOW - The Maine Department of Transportation is beginning on-site construction work to replace the Ticonic Bridge, which carries Bridge Street (Routes 137 and 201) over the Kennebec River between Waterville and Winslow.
The current Ticonic Bridge's concrete arch dates to the early 20th century, when the bridge carried a trolley line. Other sections of the bridge were replaced in 1936 after a flood washed away the original steel truss. The bridge was further widened in 1970. The current bridge is more than 100 years old and has deteriorated to the point that the end of its useful life is near. Further attempts to repair or rehabilitate it will not restore the full integrity of the bridge to meet modern safety needs.
The new bridge will be constructed on the same alignment as the current one. The new structure will be a two-span bridge with a single concrete pier in the river. The bridge will be made of steel girders with a concrete bridge deck. Like the existing bridge, the new bridge will carry five lanes of traffic. The new structure will also feature widened shoulders and include sidewalks on both sides. Replacing the Ticonic Bridge with an improved structure that will provide long-term reliability will greatly enhance other infrastructure investments being made in Waterville by the city and Colby College.
On-site construction work is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 3rd. Drivers should expect daytime and nighttime lane closures. In late August 2023, the Ticonic Bridge will be closed to westbound vehicle traffic, and westbound vehicles will be detoured to Carter Memorial Bridge so that the upstream half of the bridge can be built. In September 2023, pedestrian traffic will be detoured to Two Cent Bridge. Ticonic Bridge is scheduled to be fully closed from November 2024 until April 2025, when eastbound traffic and pedestrian traffic are scheduled to begin using the first new half of the bridge. At that time, westbound vehicle traffic will continue to be detoured to Carter Memorial Bridge. The Ticonic Bridge will fully reopen to both eastbound and westbound traffic along with pedestrian traffic around September 2026, and all contract work will be complete by May 2027.
The contractor on this project is Cianbro of Pittsfield. The contract amount is $52.85 million. This project is the recipient of a 2020 Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $25 million.
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News Release for March 18, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
JEFFERSON - The Maine Department of Transportation reopened Route 17 in Jefferson to traffic last night at approximately 6:30 p.m. The road had been closed east of Route 32 (near Peaslee's Quick Stop) following a February 21st culvert collapse. This road closure required an 11-mile traffic detour.
Department contracting partners at T Buck Construction of Turner completed the work one week ahead of schedule. The new culvert is bigger than the one that collapsed to increase the resiliency of the infrastructure. This new culvert has an expected service life of 100 years. The amount of the construction contract that involved this work is $1,496,111.
MaineDOT would like to thank everyone who helped accelerate the timeline on this important job. We would also like to thank the members of the traveling public for their patience and understanding.
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News Release for March 17, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
CUMBERLAND COUNTY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be resuming night work on the approximately 7.5 miles of I-295 in Portland and South Portland (between the Scarborough and Falmouth town lines). Crews will be replacing paving and median walls while also working to improve drainage and safety. Work on this project had been suspended for the winter but will resume on Sunday, March 19th. Crews are permitted to work between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., beginning Sunday nights and ending Friday mornings. All project work is scheduled to be finished by October 15th. The contractor on this project is Pike Industries, Inc. of Westbrook. The contract amount is $19,796,315.
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News Release for March 17, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
LISBON - The Maine Department of Transportation is resuming highway reconstruction work on Route 125 (Main Street) in Lisbon. Work on this project started in March 2022 but was suspended during the winter. Work will resume on Monday, March 20th. The construction area begins at the intersection of Routes 125 and 196 and continues northeasterly to Huston Street. In addition to reconstructing the road, this project involves improving drainage, replacing water and sewer lines, and installing new sidewalks. All work is scheduled to be completed by December 8th. The contractor on this project is McGee Construction of West Gardiner. The contract amount is $7,518,000.
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News Release for February 28, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
JEFFERSON - The Maine Department of Transportation will be replacing a culvert on Route 17 in Jefferson. The new culvert will be bigger than the previous one to increase the resiliency of this infrastructure. This new culvert has an expected life of 100 years. This work requires the full closure of part of Route 17 until March 24, 2023. The closure area is east of Route 32, near Peaslee's Quick Stop. Detoured traffic should use Route 32, Route 126, and Route 220.
The contractor on this project is T Buck Construction of Turner. The contract amount is $1,496,111.00.
Original Press Release JEFFERSON - A large culvert on Route 17 in Jefferson collapsed earlier this evening. The location of the culvert is east of Route 32, near Peaslee's Quick Stop. MaineDOT Crews have set up an 11-mile detour utilizing Route 32, Route 126, and Route 220, until an assessment can be performed to determine what is necessary to reopen the roadway. Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour signage in place.
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News Release for February 28, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing the Rines Hill Bridge on Water Street over the Maine Central Railroad in Augusta. The current bridge is more than 90 years old and at the end of its useful service life.
Construction efforts will begin in early March, with anticipated traffic impacts beginning on March 13 with periodic, daytime lane reductions expected. A detour will go into effect beginning on March 20. Beginning this date all traffic traveling North will be reduced to a single lane. Southbound traffic will follow a detour utilizing Winthrop and State Street. This new traffic pattern will be maintained until Spring of 2024.
The contractor on this project is New England Infrastructure, Inc. of Hudson, MA. The contract amount is $5,210.787.00
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News Release for February 27, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
SOUTH PORTLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation will be reducing traffic to one lane on I-295 NB beginning 0.12 miles north of the Scarborough town line and extending north for roughly 7.5 miles to the Falmouth town line. Traffic will be reduced to one lane from approximately 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. beginning March 19 and going through the late 2023. These closures are required to accommodate median work and improvements being made to safety and drainage.
The contractor on this project is Pike Industries Inc. of Westbrook. The contract amount is $19,796,315.00.
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News Release for February 27, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
YARMOUTH - The Maine Department of Transportation will be reducing traffic to one lane on I-295 SB 0.5 miles north of Exit 17 from approximately 10 PM to 6 AM beginning March 1. At this time, the passing lane on I-295 SB will be shut down and all I-295 SB traffic will be shifted to one lane. Exit 17 will remain open during these times. Night work is expected to occur until Friday morning, March 3rd. These closures are required to accommodate median work. We appreciate the public's continued patience regarding these interstate closures. The contractor on this project is CPM Constructors of Freeport. The contract amount is $29,273,418.83.
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News Release for February 21, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
JEFFERSON - A large culvert on Route 17 in Jefferson collapsed earlier this evening. The location of the culvert is east of Route 32, near Peaslee's Quick Stop. MaineDOT Crews have set up an 11-mile detour utilizing Route 32, Route 126, and Route 220, until an assessment can be performed to determine what is necessary to reopen the roadway. Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted detour signage in place.
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News Release for February 8, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
PORTLAND - Paint from has peeled and flaked from three I-295 interstate bridges within the City of Portland, necessitating lane closures while the debris is cleaned up and removed. The Maine Department of Transportation, working with guidance from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, will begin the clean-up process on Thursday, February 9th. It is expected to be completed prior to the weekend.
The bridges, over Franklin Street, Congress Street and the Fore River Parkway were last painted in 1973 and 1974. Given the location of the bridges, where the lead-based paint debris is located, and the prompt clean up, there is little risk to public health. Members of the public should not touch or ingest any debris that could be from the bridges.
While cleaning up the debris, MaineDOT will also assess the potential reasons that contributed to the paint failure, which is an uncommon occurrence. The bridge over Franklin Street is scheduled to be repainted this year. The bridges over Congress Street and the Fore River Parkway may also be repainted this year, pending MaineDOT's assessment.
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News Release for January 30, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation has received a final determination from the Federal Highway Administration that allows MaineDOT to replace the Frank J. Wood Bridge between Topsham and Brunswick.
This finding comes after a years-long, exhaustive federal regulatory and legal process. That process has confirmed MaineDOT's original conclusion that the safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of replacing the bridge is the best solution.
MaineDOT will advertise the bridge replacement project for construction bids on Wednesday, February 1st. Bids are expected to be accepted for a period of four weeks. MaineDOT plans to award the construction contract soon thereafter. On-site work is expected to begin in the late spring.
Once complete, the Towns of Brunswick and Topsham will be connected by a reliable new bridge, located on a curved upstream alignment, that will feature enhancements requested by a local design advisory committee. Designed to last for at least 100 years, the new bridge will have sidewalks on both sides (including pedestrian viewing bump-outs), wider shoulders on both sides, parks on both ends, special railings, lighting and other design details, and unobstructed views of the natural and architectural features of the surrounding Pejepscot Falls site.
The current Frank J. Wood Bridge originally constructed in 1931 is now more than 90 years old. MaineDOT began the process to improve this crossing in 2014. The bridge is fracture critical and rated in poor condition. Recent inspections of the bridge have showed severe section loss and aggressive deterioration. In November 2021, MaineDOT had to prohibit all commercial vehicles from using the current bridge. Although no further traffic restrictions are imminent, MaineDOT will continue to closely monitor the bridge and take additional steps, if necessary, to protect public safety. Because of its condition, the bridge is inspected twice a year. Bridges are normally inspected once every two years. The last inspection occurred in October 2022.
In 2017, a preliminary estimated construction cost of a new bridge to replace the Frank J. Wood Bridge was $13 million. Due to the legal and process delays and a concurrent market increase in construction costs, the new bridge is now expected to cost multiple times this preliminary estimate, as would the cost of other alternatives considered including rehabilitation.
"Its been a long process, but we look forward to delivering the new bridge to better connect these two communities and the travelers of Maine," said MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note. "It will be safe, reliable, and serve all users well, including motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists."
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News Release for January 27, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
FALMOUTH - As part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge that carries Bucknam Road over I-295 in Falmouth, the Maine Department of Transportation will be closing I-295 at Exit 10 for short periods of time several on four separate nights next week. Each night's closure will last no longer than 25 minutes and will occur between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. These closures are required to accommodate utility work. Maine State Police will assist MaineDOT. The department will also be using message boards to alert drivers of the closure.
This is part of an ongoing project to replace the bridges that carry Bucknam Road and Johnson Road over I-295 in Falmouth. The work on Bucknam Road began last year and will continue into 2024. On-site work on Johnson Road has not yet begun. The estimated completion date for both bridge replacement projects is December 12th, 2025.
The contractor on this project is Wyman & Simpson, Inc. of Richmond. The contract amount is $19,574,460.
We appreciate the public's continued patience regarding these interstate closures.
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News Release for January 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
FALMOUTH - Due to the recent weather events, the I-295 closures that had been planned for the first half of this week will now extend to Thursday and Friday nights. This is part of the project to replace the bridge that carries Bucknam Road over I-295 at Exit 10 in Falmouth. Each night's closure will last no longer than 25 minutes and will occur between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. These closures are required to accommodate utility work. Maine State Police will assist MaineDOT. The department will also be using message boards to alert drivers of the closure.
Two additional closures will happen next week. One will be on the night of Wednesday, February 1st. The second closure has not yet been scheduled. This should complete the utility relocation work.
This is part of an ongoing project replace the bridges that carry Bucknam Road and Johnson Road over I-295 in Falmouth. The work on Bucknam Road began last year and will continue into 2024. On-site work on Johnson Road has not yet begun. The estimated completion date for both bridge replacement projects is December 12th, 2025.
The contractor on this project is Wyman & Simpson, Inc. of Richmond. The contract amount is $19,574,460.
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News Release for January 25, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - Today, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) released the 2023 Edition of its three-year Work Plan. This Work Plan includes all capital projects and programs, maintenance and operations activities, planning initiatives, and administrative functions for calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025. This plan contains 2,599 individual work items with a total value of $3.94 billion, consisting primarily of work delivered or coordinated through MaineDOT.
MaineDOT's Work Plan is influenced by significant challenges and opportunities.
One of the biggest challenges is structural: transportation is and always will be a big job in Maine. We have a large, mostly rural state with challenging geology and weather and a small, spread-out, aging population. To meet those needs, Maine has a vast, multimodal transportation system.
Another challenge shared by DOTs across the country is the cost of doing business. Since 2018, MaineDOT has experienced construction cost increases averaging 40 to 50 percent, driven by tight labor and materials markets. Because of this, MaineDOT will continue to embrace a "MacGyver" approach of getting the most customer value from each dollar we are provided. Ingenuity and prudent stewardship of public funds is what Maine travelers and taxpayers rightly expect.
Despite these challenges, there is great opportunity in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) passed a little more than a year ago. In addition to an increase in reliable formula funding that helps address increased costs, the BIL includes a dramatic increase in the amount of competitive grant funding that allows MaineDOT to make targeted improvements without detracting from our core mission of taking care of the system we have now.
Most federal transportation funding programs generally require state match funding, so state funding is critical to unlocking these federal funds. Governor Mills and the Maine Legislature have provided robust levels of General Fund support for transportation. Ongoing state support will allow MaineDOT to address both the challenge of increasing costs and the opportunities provided in the federal BIL.
"Strong support for infrastructure at both the federal and state levels gives us reasons to be optimistic about the future of transportation in Maine," said Bruce Van Note, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. "We are continuing our shift from making do to making pragmatic progress. If we set reasonable goals that fit Maine's needs, manage costs with practical ingenuity, and find the funds needed to match available federal funds, all Maine people can realize the enhanced safety, economic opportunity, and quality of life that comes with a better transportation future."
For the reason noted above, many of the major projects included in this Work Plan include some sort of extraordinary funding from the federal government - either from the BIL discretionary grant programs or Congressionally Directed Spending awards. Such funding represents about 11 percent of the total value of Work Plan items.
"The team at MaineDOT is skilled at both responding to challenges and embracing opportunities both of those qualities are evident in this Work Plan," said Maria Fuentes, Executive Director of the Maine Better Transportation Association. "Continued support for infrastructure at both the federal and state levels gives Maine the ability to make new investments in its transportation system. Those investments support thousands of jobs in our state. We share the optimism that a better transportation system is within our reach."
This Work Plan invests in the largest and most heavily used component of Maine's transportation system: its 8,800-mile, state-jurisdiction highway network and 2,800 bridges. This Work Plan includes nearly $2.2 billion for highway and bridge capital projects, including the following:
- 302 bridge projects (estimated cost: $706 million).
- 1,178 miles of preservation paving (estimated cost: $575 million).
- 271 miles of highway construction and rehabilitation (estimated cost: $475 million).
- 264 highway safety and spot improvements (estimated cost: $190 million).
- 2,073 miles of Light Capital Paving (estimated cost: $116 million).
- Replacing approximately 75 miles of rail on CSX's Waterville-Mattawamkeag Line and making other track improvements to allow heavier freight cars and increased speeds ($42.5 million).
- Construction of a new hybrid electric vessel for the Maine State Ferry Service to service Lincolnville and Islesboro ($35 million).
- Pedestrian safety improvements in 12 Heads Up! focus communities that have experienced a disproportionate number of pedestrian crashes in recent years ($11.1 million).
- Rural worker/workforce transportation funding opportunities for projects aimed at connecting workers to employment opportunities, especially in rural areas where transportation options are limited ($5 million).
- Preparing a grant application to facilitate improvements on a 2.7-mile-long segment of the Eastern Trail in North Berwick, Wells, and Kennebunk.
"The Village partnership Initiative has been a catalyst for channeling key elements of the town's Downtown Revitalization Plan into a tangible path forward beginning with the Oquossoc Village Transportation Study that is underway now," said Joe Roach, Rangeley Town Manager. "MaineDOT leadership met with town officials to discuss the program, planning staff helped the town through the application and consultant selection process, and professionals from various disciplines across MaineDOT had a strong presence at the kick-off meeting and are engaged with our project consultants. The Village Partnership Initiative enhances transportation and community development locally while strengthening the state as a whole. The benefits of the partnership go beyond the matching funds."
This Work Plan, like all such plans, is dependent upon funding assumptions involving state Highway Fund revenue, federal funds, and other funding sources. Should funding sources not materialize, the work items within this plan will need to be adjusted to reflect funding changes.
View and search the 2023 Edition of the MaineDOT Work Plan by visiting www.mainedot.gov. This year's Work Plan also features an interactive, media-rich story map.
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News Release for January 19, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather forecasted for this evening, the utility work and associated closures on I-295 will be postponed to next week.
Additional closures on I-295 at Bucknam Road are currently scheduled for next Monday through Wednesday, January 23rd through 25th, between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. As always, these short closures will be no longer than 25 minutes.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 1/10/23:
FALMOUTH - As part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge that carries Bucknam Road over I-295 in Falmouth, the Maine Department of Transportation will be closing I-295 at Exit 10 for short periods of time several on four separate nights next week. Each night's closure will last no longer than 25 minutes and will occur between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. These closures are required to accommodate utility work. Maine State Police will assist MaineDOT. The department will also be using message boards to alert drivers of the closure.
This is part of an ongoing project replace the bridges that carry Bucknam Road and Johnson Road over I-295 in Falmouth. The work on Bucknam Road began last year and will continue into 2024. On-site work on Johnson Road has not yet begun. The estimated completion date for both bridge replacement projects is December 12th, 2025.
The contractor on this project is Wyman & Simpson, Inc. of Richmond. The contract amount is $19,574,460.
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News Release for January 6, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
EDDINGTON - The Maine Department of Transportation is constructing a new bridge in Eddington as part of the ongoing I-395/Route 9 Connector project. The new bridge will carry Clewleyville Road over the new highway. This is one of five bridges associated with this project.
Beginning on January 9th, Clewleyville Road traffic will be detoured to Levenseller Road and Nolan Road. The contractor has posted signs to alert drivers. This detour is expected to be in place for most of 2023.
Connector construction started in January 2022. Right now, approximately half the road construction is finished (between Wilson Street and Levenseller Road). This new highway will be approximately six miles long and run between Brewer and Eddington. All work is expected to be finished in 2025.
The I-395/Route 9 Connector project will provide the "missing link" between I-395 and Route 9 in southern Penobscot County. Right now, vehicles traveling through the area from I-395 to Route 9 generally proceed from I-395 to Routes 1A, 46, and 9 routes that have abrupt transitions in travel speed, roadway geometry, and capacity. The new connector will provide a regional solution to congestion, connectivity, mobility, and safety problems. The greater Bangor/Brewer area is the economic and employment center for the north central region of the state. It's also a hub for the movement of goods because of its proximity to the interstate highway system and Canadian markets.
The contractor on this project is Sargent Corporation of Sillwater. The contract amount is $84,437,000.
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News Release for January 3, 2023
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
UPDATE ON 1/5/23:
The I-295 closure that was planned for tonight is being pushed to Sunday night because of the weather. Additionally, there will be a similar closure on Monday night. On both nights, there will be a rolling closure of I-295 for no longer than a 25-minute period between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Similar closures will also happen on future dates, though they have not been scheduled yet.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 1/3/23:
FALMOUTH - As part of the ongoing work to replace the bridge that carries Bucknam Road over I-295 in Falmouth, the Maine Department of Transportation will be closing I-295 at Exit 10 for a short period on Thursday night. The closure will last no longer than 25 minutes and will occur between 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 5th and 2:00 a.m. on Friday, January 6th. This closure is required to accommodate the removal and replacement of overhead utility wires. Maine State Police will assist MaineDOT. The department will also be using message boards to alert drivers of the closure.
This is part of an ongoing project replace the bridges that carry Bucknam Road and Johnson Road over I-295 in Falmouth. The work on Bucknam Road began last year and will continue into 2024. On-site work on Johnson Road has not yet begun. The estimated completion date for both bridge replacement projects is December 12th, 2025.
The contractor on this project is Wyman & Simpson, Inc. of Richmond. The contract amount is $19,574,460.
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News Release for December 27, 2022
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
WATERVILLE - The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing a culvert on the Webb Road in Waterville that washed out in the heavy winds and rain the area received on 12/23/2022. The project area is approximately 1.7 miles south of the Middle Road intersection. The road will be closed until the replacement is complete. There is a detour in place that utilizes the Middle Road, Trafton Road and River Road. This work is being performed by crews from MaineDOT's Bureau of Maintenance & Operations.
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News Release for December 15, 2022
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation is enhancing its efforts to hire more snowfighters as the height of the winter season approaches.
The department will be increasing hiring ads on social media in the coming weeks and months in an effort to improve staffing levels. This is in addition to increased pay stipends, competitive benefits, and on-the-job training that the department continues to offer. The enhanced effort comes as MaineDOT, like many other public entities and private businesses, has struggled to fill truck driver vacancies and to retain desired levels of experienced snowfighters.
MaineDOT, however, is prepared to tackle the storm that's expected to hit Maine tomorrow.
"We are working to improve our hiring by offering pay stipends in different parts of the state along with a snowfighting bonus, competitive benefits, and on-the-job training all while extending our recruitment efforts through more social media," said Kyle Hall, Director of MaineDOT's Bureau of Maintenance and Operations. "MaineDOT offers stable and rewarding careers, and we invite Maine people looking for work to join us this winter. Becoming a MaineDOT snowfighter will help ensure that our roads stay in top shape through every storm. Your service will make a difference."
With the winter season upon us, the number of licensed truck drivers trained in snowfighting operations is about 20 percent lower than would be optimal to cover all weather scenarios. This situation is further complicated by ongoing supply chain issues that have led to shortages or delays in equipment and material deliveries. While MaineDOT remains ready to handle most winter weather events this season, these staffing shortages may impact the department's ability to maintain levels of service during long-duration storms this winter. Maine travelers will see the quick and thorough response they are accustomed to seeing for short-duration winter events, but winter road conditions could be worse than normal during long-duration storms that bring heavy, wet snow. This will be especially true for storms that last more than 24 hours.
If the number of snowfighters does not increase, the department hopes to minimize impacts to travelers by sharing plow drivers between crew maintenance facilities and by utilizing other employees that are licensed but do not drive plow trucks as part of their regular jobs such as mechanics and supervisors.
"We say this all the time, but it bears repeating: please avoid driving in bad weather, but if you have to go out, give our plow trucks plenty of time and space to do what they do best in the safest way possible," said Hall. "Our snowfighters take great pride in keeping our roads clear. We appreciate their continued dedication to the people who live, work, and travel in Maine."
MaineDOT provides winter maintenance on 8,225 lane miles of roads that are divided into nearly 350 individual plow routes. More than 500 licensed truck drives from 93 crew camps across the state stand ready to tackle winter weather events. During the average winter, Maine experiences 35 storm events. It is not uncommon for MaineDOT snowflighters to plow more than two million miles of road during the winter that's the equivalent of traveling from the earth to the moon and back again more than four times.
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News Release for December 14, 2022
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
OLD TOWN - The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Stillwater Avenue (Llewellyn Estes) Bridge in Old Town to all traffic from approximately 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 15th to approximately 4:00 a.m. on Friday, December 16th. This closure is necessary while the Old Town Water District secures a water pipe that is hanging underneath the bridge. There will be a detour in place during this closure. The length of the maximum detour is approximately five miles and involves driving through Orono via Bennoch Road (Route 16), Route 2, and College Avenue. More overnight closures may be required next week for the water district to take further steps to secure the pipe. MaineDOT would like to thank the members of the traveling public in advance for their patience and understanding during this important work.
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News Release for December 14, 2022
For more Information:
Paul Merrill, Director of Communications - 207-215-9297
HAMPDEN - Construction on the Maine Department of Transportation's Hampden Bridge Bundle Project is now substantially finished.
This project involved rebuilding eight bridges and rehabilitating a ninth bridge along a four-mile stretch of I-95 in Hampden between Exits 174 and 180. Three of these bridge pairs cross the Souadabscook Stream, and one pair crosses Emerson Mill Road and the Central Maine & Quebec Railway. The one bridge rehabilitation involved with this project occurred at the Exit 180 off-ramp on Cold Brook Road over I-95. The project involved the construction of four temporary bridges to keep interstate traffic moving throughout this project.
The contractor on the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project was Cianbro Corporation of Pittsfield. The contract amount was $44.8 million.
MaineDOT would like to thank everyone involved in making this project a success, especially our customers the people who live, work, and travel in Maine.
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Have a Press Inquiry?
Contact Paul Merrill.
Phone: 207-624-3355 or 207-215-9297
Email: paul.merrill@maine.gov
Address: 24 Child St., Augusta, ME 04330
