Maine?s marine-based container-shipping feeder service, which operates out of Portland?s International Marine Terminal (IMT), has been selected as one of eight projects nationwide to be part of the U.S. DOT?s Marine Highway Program. Yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood designated the container feeder service, which runs between Portland, Boston, and New York, as a ?project? within the program. This designation makes the service eligible for federal funding.

Construction crews are set to begin improvements on the Hotel Road intersection at Young?s Corner in Auburn this Monday, August 23.

Motorists should expect delays at the intersection due to the high volume of traffic and the confined construction area. Traffic will be limited to one-way, alternating traffic regulated by flaggers.

Construction is set to begin Sunday night on a section of Route 196 between I-295 and Route 201 in Topsham.

Crews will be removing the top layer of the existing, deteriorating pavement, and then repaving that section of Route 196 from the I-295 bridge to the intersection of Route 196 and Main Street (Route 201).

Beginning Thursday, August 26th at 7 AM there will be a new traffic pattern for tractor trailer trucks, large RVs or other large vehicles. MaineDOT will eliminate the left turn onto Christian Ridge Road for at least a week so the contractor can construct a concrete turning lane. During that week, there will be a detour for large vehicles that will utilize Boggy Brook Road and Vittum Road.

Motorists who utilize Route 7 in Newport near the Corrinna town line should expect delays as construction continues on the Mulligan Stream Bridge. For the next 21 days, traffic will be limited to one-way, alternating traffic regulated by temporary signal lights.

The three-week lane closure is necessary as construction crews replace the Mulligan Stream Bridge. Crews will maintain one eleven-foot wide travel lane over the bridge during this period.

Motorists should expect delays during the morning and evening commutes.

Construction of a concrete turning lane at the intersection of Route 1A and the Christian Ridge Road will necessitate a detour for left-turning tractor trailer trucks, large RVs and other large vehicles beginning tomorrow, Thursday, August 26.

Larger vehicles will be directed to a detour that utilizes the Boggy Brook Road and the Vittum road. The detour will be in effect during the weekend.

Construction of the turning lane is part of the Route 1A reconstruction project.

Motorists who travel Route 139 in Fairfield should expect delays on Sunday as Maine Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will be patching the bridge decking of the I-95 overpass, necessitating a lane closure for much of the day.

Crews are expected to begin patching the bridge deck at 6 a.m. Sunday, August 26, and continue until 4 p.m. Crews will maintain one lane of one-way traffic regulated by flaggers during the construction period.

Drivers are asked to drive cautiously through the work zone.

Starting Tuesday, September 7, a section of Route 105 in Camden will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic so MaineDOT bridge maintenance crews can repair the curbing on a small bridge that spans Bog Stream.

Traffic will be directed by ?Stop? and ?Proceed When Clear? signs at either end of the bridge. The bridge repairs are expected to take between four and six weeks to complete.

Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Cole, along with elected officials from the St. John Valley will formally dedicate Maine?s newest Scenic Byway, the St. John Valley Cultural Byway on Thursday, September 9 at 2 p.m. at the Acadian Village on Route 1 in Van Buren. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the ceremony.

A section of Route 136 just north of the Durham/Auburn town line has been closed as a portion of the riverbank has collapsed and slid into the Androscoggin River. Approximately 100? of the road and three utility poles have been damaged. A crane that was being utilized to stabilize the bank has slid down the bank and has fallen over. No injuries have been reported as a result of the river bank collapsing.