The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has given approval to the Maine Department of Transportation to move forward with the Caribou Connector project, a 4.28-mile connector that will loop around Caribou and connect Route 1 with Route 161. The FHWA gave its approval in the form of a Tier 2 Record of Decision (ROD) Thursday that identified the environmentally preferred route for the bypass.

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) reported today that discussions are continuing in an attempt to resolve the potential ?abandonment? of approximately 240 miles of railroad track in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties. This trackage is currently owned and operated by the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railroad (MMA) of Hermon. MMA owns and operates this freight rail line and approximately 200 additional miles of track in Maine, as well as significant rail mileage in the Province of Quebec.

Ryan Campbell, a MaineDOT snowplow operator, captured first place at the XIII International Winter Road Congress Snowplow Championship in Quebec City. Campbell was the best in a field of over 20 operators that came from all over the world. MaineDOT?s Joe Osgood finished in the top ten as well.

MaineDOT bridge crews are set to begin construction on the Carle Brook Bridge, located on Route 105 in Camden. Construction is expected to begin the week of March 8, and is expected to last four months. Traffic will be limited to one lane during the construction period.

Crews will widen the bridge to 26 feet from curb to curb, and will also install new railing, new guardrails and repair the concrete abutments. If the project proceeds as planned and there are no weather-related delays, work should be completed within four months.

Construction on the Second Street Bridge in Hallowell is set to resume, Monday, March 8, 2010. Crews had halted construction during the winter months, but are ready to restart, and expect to have the project completed by mid-June.

During this construction phase, flaggers will be used to control one lane of alternating traffic, so motorists may experience some delays on Second Street during the morning and evening commutes.

Public Involvement is a vital part in the Maine Department of Transportation?s planning and decision-making. MaineDOT recognizes that everyone who uses Maine?s transportation network is a customer, and MaineDOT strives to gather as much public input as possible in making transportation decisions.

Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) bridge engineers closed to traffic the bridge between Berwick, Maine and Somersworth, New Hampshire at 1:30 p.m. today because of the rising water level.

The Berwick-Somersworth Bridge carries Route 9 over the Salmon River. The water level had risen to the beam of the bridge, creating a risk of waterborne debris striking or attaching to the bridge.

Motorists who use I-295 between exits 3 and 4 in South Portland may experience delays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, April 1 as the right travel lane and shoulder area will be closed in order for construction crews to unload overhead sign trusses and supports that will be installed next week.

The large trusses will be offloaded onto the grass shoulder area where they will be assembled in preparation for their installation for next week. Variable message boards have been installed alerting motorists to the lane closures.

Motorists who use I-295 between exits 3 and 4 in South Portland Monday night and Tuesday night may experience delays between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. as crews install overhead sign trusses that will necessitate a full closure of the highway for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Prior to the installation of the sign trusses Monday night, there will be a travel and shoulder lane closure, but two lanes of traffic in each direction will remain open. Crews will repeat the process on Tuesday night in order to install the remaining trusses.

MaineDOT announced today that preliminary construction is set to begin on replacing the Knickerbocker Bridge in Boothbay, an 80-year old bridge built on wood pilings. Construction crews are expected to be on site this week conducting test borings and clearing at the site for the new bridge.