YARMOUTH. MaineDOT has announced that highway construction crews plan to reopen Interstate 295 northbound Exit 15 and unveil a new northbound on-ramp on Monday, July 1 after several months of intensive highway improvements and new construction.

Work began at the busy Yarmouth interchange in early March, and motorists have had to access Route 1 in Yarmouth via I-295 Exit 10 in Falmouth or Exit 17 in Yarmouth.

The reopening of the northbound exit marks a critical point in the schedule comprising a number of different goals within the Exit 15 project.

Governor Paul R. LePage on Wednesday signed the $613.6 million Highway Fund budget into law.

Separate from the state?s general fund budget, the Highway Fund budget funds the Maine Department of Transportation, the Motor Vehicle Division of the Secretary of State, and a portion of the State Police.

"The Highway Fund budget is fiscally responsible," said Governor LePage. "It does not raise taxes or fees, and it puts people to work. I am pleased to put my name to a budget that makes good sense for Maine people."

Augusta ? MaineDOT recently updated the Full Feature (High Band-width) and Streamlined (Low Bandwidth) 511 Travel Information web pages to include video camera images for the Interstate system and a few other select highways.

Portland ? Crews will be repairing the wearing surface on I-295 southbound, on the bridge over Washington Avenue in Portland.

The project starts on Monday, July 8th with anticipated completion of the end of July.

This ?long term? lance closure will require reducing the bridge to two lanes with a concrete barrier. Due to work being done during daylight hours, motorists may experience slight delays and are advised to slow down and be cautious through the work zone.

Bangor ? On July 10th, crews will be load testing a bridge on I-95 northbound in Bangor during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 3 a.m.

MaineDOT will be assisting the University of Maine with this bridge testing that will require closing I-95 from Exit 184 (Union Street) to Exit 185 (Broadway). This will result in detouring motorists off the interstate at Exit 184, proceeding west onto Union Street, right onto Griffin Road, right onto Broadway and then back to the Interstate 95 north bound on-ramp.

Augusta ? Crews will be paving Route 202 from the J&S gas station to the Manchester/Augusta town line beginning Monday, July 15th.

Paving operations will start at 6 a.m. on the west lane which will require a lane closure proceeding to J&S then pave the east lane back to the town line.

Motorists should allow extra travel time and drive cautiously through the work zone.

Portland ? The I-295 southbound bridge that runs over St. John Street in Portland will be reduced to one lane Sunday night, July 14th from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday, July 15th.

Crews will be repairing bridge joints that will necessitate closing one lane of southbound traffic over this bridge.

Variable message signs will alert drivers approaching the work zone. Motorists should use caution when traveling through this area.

The Old Belgrade Road will be closed temporarily from 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 18th through Tuesday, July 23rd at 6 a.m. to allow for the installation of large culverts at Stone Brook.

Sedgwick ? Rehabilitation and preservation work on the Deer isle-Sedgwick Bridge begins on Monday, July 22nd.

Crews will be replacing various parts on the bridge to extend its lifespan and improve the overall condition.

Traffic will be maintained with one lane open on each side of the bridge at all times when work is conducted Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It is anticipated the rehabilitation work will be completed by mid-December.

Bremen ? A culvert replacement project will necessitate the closure of Route 32 in Bremen for 14 days starting Friday, July 26th.

The project area begins .01 mile north of the Round Pond-Bremen town line and extends northerly for approximately 400 ft. Traffic will be allowed on either side of the work zone.