Preparation for this summer?s construction on I-295 in the Portland area has begun, and motorists who travel I-295 should be aware of lane shifts and closures that could cause possible delays. The construction projects mark the continuation of a series of improvement projects on I-295 that are designed to make the highway safer, preserve existing infrastructure, and improve traffic mobility.

MaineDOT bridge engineers are set to begin an intensive inspection of the Black Bridge, which is one of the four bridges that connect Topsham and Brunswick over the Androscoggin River. The bridge is expected to be closed for several weeks, as MaineDOT must build a staging area below the bridge in order to inspect the underside of the bridge.

The Black Bridge was closed Tuesday night after a vehicle crashed into the bridge?s steel suspension rods and pressure-treated guardrail. The steel suspension rods are the main support system for the bridge deck.

The Maine Department of Transportation today released its $764.6 million Capital Work Plan for fiscal years 2012-13. This work plan contains MaineDOT?s strategy to invest projected capital transportation funding into the design, construction and maintenance of the state?s transportation infrastructure. An electronic, searchable version of the work plan can be found at www.mainedot.gov.

Beginning Sunday night, April 24, at 7 p.m., workers will implement a long-term lane closure on the right side of Tukey?s Bridge on I-295 southbound.

Construction crews will also establish a long-term lane closure for the Washington Avenue southbound on-ramp to I-295. The Washington Avenue on-ramp is comprised of two lanes and crews will close the right lane of the on-ramp until all work has been completed on bridge. This lane closure will extend north on Washington Avenue to Presumpscot Street.

Construction crews are set to begin excavation on Route 1 and Route 218 in Wiscasset in order to replace the aging water main and storm drain infrastructure.

As paving and repair work commences on Tukey?s Bridge on I-295 southbound in Portland, construction crews have established a long-term lane closure for the Washington Avenue on-ramp to I-295 southbound. The Washington Avenue on-ramp is now one lane instead of two lanes, as the right-hand lane of the on-ramp will remain closed until all work has been completed on bridge. This lane closure extends north on Washington Avenue to Presumpscot Street, and may cause some delays for morning commuters. Motorists should allow extra time or use an alternate route.

Starting Monday, May 2, Motorists who utilize Main Street in Newport will be detoured off of Main Street due to construction work on the Main Street Bridge which carries Route 2 traffic over the east branch of the Sebasticook River in downtown Newport.

Passenger vehicle traffic will be directed to an in-town detour that utilizes High Street, North Street, and Elm Street.

As I-295 southbound repair work continues on Tukey?s Bridge in Portland next week, construction crews will close Exit 8 to mainline traffic each night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Sunday night, May 1. Exit 8 will remain open only for southbound traffic entering from Washington Avenue.

Motorists who utilize the Deer Isle ? Sedgwick bridge need to be aware of three upcoming bridge closures which will shut down the bridge three times this week, with each shutdown lasting approximately 60 minutes.

The closures are weather-dependent, and are scheduled to occur between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 on Tuesday. Crews need three hour-long closures to conduct the inspection, and if the weather is poor on Tuesday, crews will postpone the inspection until Wednesday or Thursday.

The passing lanes on I-95 southbound and northbound south of the Sebasticook River in Pittsfield will be closed for portions of Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 5-7) so crews from Central Maine Power can install new power lines over the interstate. The travel lanes will remain open during the installation.