FREEPORT, Maine ? Starting at 9 p.m. tonight (7/19) and continuing until 6 a.m. tomorrow (7/20), the I-295 Northbound Exit 24 (Route One) off- and on-ramps in Freeport will be closed to permit paving on the main portion of the highway. Motorists are advised to use Exit 22 (Mallett Drive) or Exit 28 (Route One) to exit or enter I-295 Northbound.

Construction crews expected to pave yesterday, however, repair work on the roughened, milled surface of the highway necessitated the postponement.

NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine -- Nearly 200 years after the first bridge crossed the Kennebec River in Norridgewock, a new bridge has opened in the same spot, and is expected to last for the next 100 years.

MaineDOT and the town of Norridgewock officially opened the new Norridgewock Bridge this morning at 11:00, culminating a process that started back in 1998 when the state and local officials first gathered and discussed replacing the deteriorating, narrow, concrete arch bridge that was built in 1928.

PORTLAND, Maine -- Those bright-orange signs on the I-295 Northbound approach to Tukeys Bridge have an important, new message for drivers. Motorists who want to take Exit 9 onto Veranda Street must stay in the right-hand lane as the highway divides both left and right around a new, work zone lane closure.

AUGUSTA, Maine ? Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt announced today that MaineDOT will terminate the Wiscasset Route 1 Corridor Study, which will end any plans to build a bypass around the coastal community.

?The cost of building the bypass far exceeds any potential benefits to motorists and the communities,? said MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt. ?At a time when we have difficulty finding the financial resources to maintain our existing infrastructure, I cannot justify the expense of building a bypass around Wiscasset.?

MINOT, Maine ? Crews have begun construction on replacing a box-type culvert at the intersections of Route 119 and Verrill Road in Minot.

If the replacement project proceeds as planned, crews expect to complete the work by September 10. During the construction period, traffic there will be alternating one-way traffic through the construction area regulated by temporary traffic signals.

St. Laurent & Sons of Lewiston, Maine is contractor for the project.

Motorists should be aware of potential delays in the area and proceed slowly through the construction zone.

GRAY, Maine -- Starting on Monday, August 8, the Sweetser Bridge in Gray, which spans the Royal River on the Depot Road, will close for approximately 60 days for repairs.

Construction crews will be replacing the deteriorating concrete deck on the bridge with a new bridge deck. These repairs are expected to extend the life of the bridge by another thirty years.

Crews will also construct a new at-grade rail crossing on the Depot Road near the bridge, which will result in smoother, safer crossings for motorists.

CUSHING, Maine ? On Monday, August 8, the Maine Department of Transportation will be closing a portion of the River Road in Cushing in order to replace a deteriorating culvert on the River Road near the intersection of Spear Mill Road.

If construction proceeds as planned, the road is expected to be closed from August 8 through August 12. During that time, there will be no through traffic on the River Road. Motorists will be directed to a posted detour that includes Route 1, Route 97 and the Upper Cross Road.

Starting Wednesday, August 10 the Mile Brook Bridge which carries the Garland Road over the Outlet Stream in Winslow will be closed while construction crews replace the bridge.

While the bridge is closed, motorists will be directed to a detour that includes portions of the Garland Road, Route 139, Route 100A and Route 137.

Along with replacing the bridge, crews will be raising the height of the bridge, making it safer for approaching motorists and less susceptible to damage by high waters in the stream.

PORTLAND, Maine -- Shortly after 9 p.m. this Friday night, August 6, I-295 Northbound construction crews on Tukeys Bridge will reopen the currently closed center lane and establish a newly closed lane along the side of the bridge. Crews may need to reduce this section of I-295 Northbound to one travel lane while dismantling barriers from the center lane and creating the new lane closure. This temporary lane closure would be short in duration.

WEST BATH, Maine ? Motorists who utilize the New Meadows Road Bridge over US Route 1 in West Bath need to be aware of two upcoming nighttime closures of the bridge due to construction.

On Wednesday night August 10, and Thursday night, August 11, the bridge will be closed from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day.

During the closures, traffic will be directed to a signed detour route around the bridge that utilizes the New Meadows Road, Witch Spring Hill Road and the Old Bath Road.