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.

Starting this Monday, April 12, MaineDOT bridge maintenance crews will begin work on the rehabilitation of the Cold Brook Road Bridge which spans I-95 at exit 180 in Hampden.

Motorists will be limited to one lane of alternating one-way traffic regulated by signal lights. Crews will first be removing the old bridge decking, then installing new bridge decking, new curbing, and new railing along the bridge. The project is expected to be completed within three months.

On Monday, I-95 southbound in Sidney will be reduced to one lane so crews can work safely on the approach entrance to the new weigh station. This travel lane closure will be in effect for up to three weeks as construction crews work to lengthen the approach to the new weigh station.

Variable message signs are in place alerting motorists to the traffic changes. The weigh station is at the location of the old southbound Sidney Rest Area that was closed two years ago. Crews will be working in the shoulder area, first filling in the area, then grading and paving.

MaineDOT announced today that construction crews are set to resume work on a $2.9 million road improvement project on a section of Route 117 in Turner. Crews are rebuilding Route 117 from the Route 4 intersection east to the intersection of Upper Street and Center Bridge Road.

Construction began last year on this 2.3-mile stretch of Route 117, and crews were able to remove trees and install much of the underground drainage system. Crews will now finish the drainage and excavation before removing the existing pavement, and installing the new road surface.

MaineDOT announced today that a short section of the Post Road (Route 138) in Bowdoinham will be closed starting April 21 so crews can install curbing and guardrail alongside the road where it crosses a brook.

The Post Road will be closed between the intersections of the Millay Road and Route 125 starting on Wednesday, April 21. MaineDOT expects to reopen the road by the end of the day on Friday, April 30.

Motorists who utilize this section of the Post Road can access Route 125 and 138 using Center Street.

Construction on Route 1A in Ellsworth is set to resume this Monday, April 19, as crews will be onsite removing portions of pavement along this seven-mile stretch of the roadway. Two-way travel will be maintained during this phase of construction, but there will be an increase in the number of construction vehicles on the road, and motorists can expect segments of gravel road.

Construction on this project began last fall, and since then, crews have removed trees, improved drainage, and excavated sections of the project.

Portland, ME ? MaineDOT officials announced today that work is about to begin on a series of improvement projects totaling $8.4 million for I-295 in the greater Portland area. Paving and bridgework will be done in the northbound lanes between the Portland-Falmouth line and Freeport. Guardrail maintenance and improvements will also be done in the median along that same stretch of I-295. The majority of work is planned to occur overnight, but some daytime lane closures will occur.