PORTLAND — The Maine Department of Transportation announced Monday that improvements to a nearly 10-mile stretch of northbound Interstate 295 will begin in mid-May.

Bradford Foley, DOT highway program manager, said the $8.4 million project will begin near the Portland-Falmouth line, just south of Exit 10, and continue to Exit 20 in Freeport. The work will include paving, bridge and guardrail improvements.

“Most of the work will be completed at night to minimize traffic problems,” Foley said.

The existing pavement will be ground up and reapplied to the road with about 4 inches of new pavement. Most of the paving will take place from 7 p.m.  to 6 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays, Foley said.

There will also be new cable guardrails and bridge improvements along the corridor.

The guardrails in the median will be similar to the guardrails installed in South Portland near Exit 4 and will prevent crossover crashes.

The Royal River bridge in Yarmouth will be repaved and new bridge joints will be installed. Work on the bridge will take place on non-holiday weekends, from 9 p.m. Fridays through noon Mondays, Foley said, and will require a one-lane closure.

The project is financed by the Federal Highway Administration and from the state’s Interstate Maintenance Fund. The federal government will pay for 90 percent, and the state is responsible for 10 percent, Foley said.

The contractor, Pike Industries of Westbrook, was the lone bidder for the project. Pike will begin work in a few weeks, and according to Foley, most likely at the southern end of the corridor. There will be signs and messages along the northbound corridor to warn commuters of the upcoming construction.

“We are somewhat restricted by the season and have to do this kind of work in the summer months,” Foley said. “People should know there will be no off-road detours and and work is expected to be complete by October.”

For up to date information on the construction project and travel advisories, commuters can call the DOT at 1-800-675-7453 or visit maineturnpike.com. Drivers can also sign up for e-mail alerts from the Maine Turnpike Authority.

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net

The Maine DOT announced Monday that improvements to the Interstate-295 northbound lanes will cost about $8.4 million and take place from May through October.

Sidebar Elements

---

Bradford Foley, the Maine Department of Transportation’s Highway Program manager, said the project that would improve bridges and guardrails and repave the 10-mile corridor from Portland to Freeport will begin mid-May and continue through October. The work will mostly take place at night, but one-lane closures will occur on some weekends.

Copy the Story Link