Deer Isle Stonington Causeway - Project Schedule

MaineDOT is committed to project phasing that includes a planning study enabling a high degree of public involvement prior to the standard project design and construction phases included in most MaineDOT capital projects. However, given the importance of the causeways as lifelines to the region, their existing conditions and increased frequency of events that impact travel reliability and safety, MaineDOT cannot wait and conduct a multiyear open-ended planning study. MaineDOT will move forward over the next 12-18 months to enable opportunities for public involvement but time is critical for improving this important piece of transportation infrastructure. Once the study is complete, MaineDOT will provide additional schedule information for Project Design and Construction Phases.

Project Schedule

Spring 2023

  • Hire Consultant
  • Review Existing Data
  • Initial Public Meeting and other opportunities for project
  • input

Summer 2023

  • Field Work & Data Collection
  • Coordination with other related planning efforts
  • Web Site Updates

Fall 2023

  • Virtual Public Meeting
  • Coordination with other related planning efforts
  • Web Site Updates

Winter 2023/ 2024

  • Draft Report
  • Public Meeting

Spring/ Summer 2024

  • Final Report
Project Phases

Phase I: Planning Study

The first phase of this project is a Planning Study that will include multiple public meetings, coordination with other related planning efforts, alternative analysis and environmental documentation. This phase will last 12-18 months and will result in a detailed scope of work such as height and width of future causeways, whether or not there are any openings such as a bridge, preliminary list of project constraints and documentation of factors to be considered during design and construction.

Phase II: Project Design

After the Planning Study is complete and subject to available funding, MaineDOT will formally design the alternative carried forward from the Planning Study. Project design will detail elements needed for construction such gravel, pavement, guard rail, right-of-way acquisition if necessary, utility coordination, project environmental factors, etc. Project design will continue to refine cost estimates and evaluate construction options including traffic control and project duration. Project Design for a project as complicated as the Deer Isle and Stonington Project could take 18-24 months or more. Although the scope of work will be predominantly set in the Planning Study, there will be continued public involvement activities during Project Design.

Phase III: Project Construction

Once MaineDOT completes Project Design the project will be advertised and put out to bid to a contractor who will construct the project. The duration and impacts of construction will take into account work window limitations, impacts identified and refined during project planning and design. In general a project such as the Deer Isle Sedgewick Causeway will likely take multiple construction seasons to complete.