KITTERY - Final paving operations on the Piscataqua River (I-95) Bridge in Kittery are scheduled to continue next week. This part of the "Maine Ahead" project remains approximately six weeks ahead of schedule. Final paving had originally been scheduled for early 2022. The contractor, SPS New England, is now planning to make the following traffic changes to accommodate final paving work on the bridge and its approaches.

Northbound:

KITTERY - The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing an inspection of the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge from October 18th to October 22nd. 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.

PORTLAND - The Maine Department of Transportation is postponing the planned closure of I-295 over Veranda Street in Portland. Following extensive conversations with design consultants and construction contractors, MaineDOT engineers decided today that the three-day closure of I-295 will need to be delayed. The closure of the interstate and Veranda Street (under the bridge) are required to replace the aging Veranda Street Bridge with the new bridge currently being built next to the interstate.

KITTERY - All lanes of traffic on the Piscataqua River (I-95) Bridge in Kittery will be open throughout the holiday weekend. Paving operations are scheduled to resume on Tuesday evening. The contractor is planning to make the following traffic changes to accommodate final paving work on the bridge and its approaches.

Northbound:

BRUNSWICK/TOPSHAM - The Maine Department of Transportation will be posting new weight restrictions on the Frank J. Wood Bridge on Monday, October 25th. The bridge, which carries Route 201 between Brunswick and Topsham, will remain open to two-way traffic but will be limited to vehicles that weigh no more than ten tons. This new restriction means vehicles in excess of 20,000 pounds - including fire engines, school buses, and box trucks will be prohibited from using the bridge. Overweight vehicles will be able to use the Route 1 Bypass as a detour route.

KITTERY - Crews continue to conduct striping and bridge joint work on the Piscataqua River (I-95) bridge. The contractor is planning to make the following traffic changes to accommodate work on the bridge and its approaches.

Northbound:

UPDATE FROM 10/26/21:

Because of this week's rain, this shift is now planned for the evening of Thursday, October 28th.

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM 10/18/21:

PORTLAND - The planned full closure of I-295 over Veranda Street in Portland to accommodate the rapid replacement of an aging interstate bridge will happen in the spring. The Maine Department of Transportation is discussing scheduling options with design consultants and construction contractors. The new closure dates will likely be in April.

KITTERY - Crews continue to conduct striping and bridge joint work on the Piscataqua River (I-95) bridge. The contractor is planning to make the following traffic changes to accommodate work on the bridge and its approaches.

Northbound:

AUGUSTA - MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note issued the following statement in response to the passage of Question 2:

"On behalf of the nearly 1,700 dedicated and hardworking team members at the Maine Department of Transportation, I want to thank Maine voters for approving Question 2 today. We are fortunate that Mainers historically have shown overwhelming support for transportation funding, and this year is no different. We never take that support for granted. Thank you.