Grant funding for Memorial Bridge Committed by USDOT

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) received word today that a $20 million federal grant has been secured for the replacement of the Memorial Bridge, which connects Kittery and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. MaineDOT has been working closely with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the applicant for the grant, to complete the documentation needed so that funding for the project could be committed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

Motorists who utilize Route 26/100 in Falmouth should expect delays on Wednesday, April 6 as MaineDOT crews must close one lane of traffic in order to inspect the Railroad Crossing Bridge that spans the Presumpscot River and the Pan Am railroad line.

Starting at approximately 8:30 a.m., motorists will be limited to one lane of alternating traffic, as MaineDOT engineers use an underbridge crane to conduct a structural inspection of the bridge. MaineDOT plans to reopen the bridge to two-way traffic before the evening commute later that same day.

The Maine Department of Transportation said today that a five-member selection committee has unanimously selected Eastern Maine Railroad (EMR) as the operator for the Aroostook Lines, which is the state-owned portion of the former Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MMA).

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.