Sen. Curry shares 2026 MDOT work plan for state bridge and road projects

Posted: March 09, 2026 | Senator Curry

AUGUSTA – Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast, is pleased to announce the details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for Waldo County. The plan is released annually with an outline of the Maine Department of Transportation’s strategy for road, bridge and other transportation upgrades and maintenance projects.

According to the Maine DOT, the three-year work plan makes a $4.5 billion investment in the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure across the state. It includes 2,798 individual work items for the calendar years 2026, 2027 and 2028.

In 2026, the Maine DOT will undertake numerous projects to improve transportation in Waldo County, including major ferry terminal upgrades serving Lincolnville and Islesboro; paving and safety improvements along key corridors like Route 1, Route 3 and Route 141; and investments in transit services and the Belfast Municipal Airport.

“Reliable transportation is essential for rural communities like ours,” said Sen. Curry. “Maintaining Route 1 as a backbone for local businesses, investing in our ferry terminals to support island residents and keeping town roads and culverts in good condition all help keep our communities connected. These investments make it easier for people to get to work, students to get to school and small businesses to move their products efficiently across Waldo County.”

The following breakdown is the planned capital and maintenance work by MDOT for communities in Waldo County in calendar year 2026:

Aviation

  • Belfast: Projected funds for improvements at the Belfast Municipal Airport, including work on the runway and taxiway to support continued safe and reliable operations.

Bicycle/Pedestrian

  • Belfast: Sidewalk construction on Congress Street and Salmond Street in Belfast, beginning 0.01 of a mile north of Route 1 and extending along the corridor.

Bridge and Structural Maintenance

  • Belfast: Bridge work on Brier Bridge (#1123) on Shepard Road over the Passagassawakeag River.
  • Belfast/Northport: Bridge work on Little River Bridge (#2988) on Route 1 over Little River.
  • Brooks/Knox/Thorndike/Waldo: Masonry repointing for multiple bridges along the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Rail Line.
  • Burnham: Bridge work on 25 Mile Stream Bridge (#5144) on Troy Road over 25 Mile Stream.
  • Knox: Bridge work on Swett Bridge (#2826) on Route 137 over Marsh Stream.
  • Monroe/Winterport: Bridge work on Conant Stream Bridge (#5655) on Route 139 over Conant Stream.
  • Montville: Bridge work on Bean Bridge (#3169) on Route 220 over Center Brook.
  • Northport: Bridge work on Shaws Hill Upper Bridge (#2757).
  • Prospect: Bridge work on Dead Brook Bridge (#2820) on North Searsport Road over Dead Brook.
  • Swanville: Bridge work on Nickersons Mills Bridge (#3737) on Route 131 over Dead Brook.

Custodial Maintenance

  • Belfast/Brooks/Waldo: Removing trees and brush on Route 7 in Belfast, Waldo and Brooks, beginning at the intersection of Route 137 in Belfast and extending 10.01 miles northwest to the Brooks-Jackson town line.

Department Building and Lot Maintenance

  • Prospect/Verona Island: Perform repairs at the Penobscot Narrows Observatory facility.

Drainage Maintenance

  • Frankfort, Winterport: Ditching and replacing culvert on Loggin Road in Winterport and Frankfort, beginning at the intersection of Route 139 in Winterport and extending 4.10 miles east to the intersection of Route 1A in Frankfort.
  • Lincolnville: Ditching on Route 235 in Lincolnville, beginning at the Hope-Lincolnville town line and extending 2.74 miles northeast to the intersection of Route 52.
  • Monroe, Swanville: Ditching on Route 141 in Swanville and Monroe, beginning at the intersection of West Moores Shore Lane in Swanville and extending 4.67 miles north to the intersection of Route 139 in Monroe.
  • Palermo: Repairing culvert (#46013) on North Palermo Road in Palermo, located 0.15 of a mile northeast of the intersection of Mary’s Way.
  • Searsmont: Ditching and replacing culvert on New England Road in Searsmont, beginning at the intersection of Main Street and extending 3.55 miles northwest to the intersection of Belfast-Augusta Road.
  • Swanville: Ditching on Frankfort Road in Swanville, beginning at the intersection of Route 141 and extending 1.28 miles northeast to the intersection of West Park Lane.
  • Winterport: Ditching on Cove Road and Back Winterport Road in Winterport, beginning at the intersection of Route 1A and extending 2.36 miles west to the Winterport-Hampden town line.
  • Winterport: Ditching on Route 69 in Winterport, beginning at the Hampden-Winterport town line and extending 5.74 miles southeast to the intersection of Route 1A.
  • Winterport: Replacing culverts (#114299, #114292) on Route 139 in Winterport, located 0.32 of a mile northeast of the intersection of Loggin Road and 480 feet west of the intersection of Kendall Road, respectively.

Ferry

  • Lincolnville/Islesboro: Major ferry terminal upgrades at the Lincolnville and Islesboro ferry terminals, including improvements to marine facilities and associated infrastructure.

Highway Construction/Rehabilitation

  • Belfast: Municipal Partnership Initiative project on Route 52 to improve roadway conditions, beginning 0.06 of a mile north of the Hatley Road and extending north 0.02 of a mile.
  • Frankfort: Highway improvements on Route 1A, beginning 0.14 of a mile north of the Prospect town line and extending north.
  • Swanville: Highway rehabilitation on Route 141, beginning 0.61 of a mile north of Route 131 and extending north.

Highway Paving

  • Appleton, Liberty: Route 105,beginning at Route 220 and extending southeast 6.21 miles to Union Road.
  • Belfast, Belmont, Liberty, Montville, Morrill, Searsmont: Route 3,beginning 0.10 of a mile east of Liberty Inn Road and extending east 16.32 miles.
  • Benton, Unity, Unity Twp: Gogan Road/Pleasant Street,beginning at Route 202 and extending west 11.45 miles.
  • Liberty, Montville: Gogan Road/Pleasant Street, beginning at Route 173 and extending north 1.79 miles to Route 3.

Highway Safety and Spot Improvements

  • Belfast: Highway safety and spot improvements on Route 1 in Belfast, beginning 0.12 of a mile southwest of Route 7 and extending east 0.36 of a mile.
  • Belfast: Cross culvert replacement (#1093546) on Route 52 in Belfast, located 0.54 of a mile north of the Northport town line.
  • Belfast: Highway safety and spot improvements at the intersection of Route 1 and Congress Street in Belfast.
  • Belfast, Rockland: Funding to address ADA deficiencies in association with paving preservation projects.
  • Brooks: Highway safety and spot improvements on Route 7, beginning 0.08 of a mile north of Hamlin Drive and extending north 0.18 of a mile.
  • Frankfort: Highway safety and spot improvements on Route 1A, beginning 0.91 of a mile north of Mount Waldo Road and extending north 0.07 of a mile.
  • Frankfort: Highway safety and spot improvements on Route 1A, located 1.46 miles north of the Prospect town line.
  • Lincolnville: Highway safety and spot improvements on Route 1 in Lincolnville, beginning at the Camden town line and extending north 2.38 miles.
  • Lincolnville, Northport: Highway safety and spot improvements on Route 1 in Lincolnville and Northport, beginning at Carver Lane and extending northeast 1.99 miles.
  • Prospect: Highway safety and spot improvements in Prospect, beginning 0.05 of a mile north of Route 1 and extending south 0.05 of a mile to Route 1.
  • Prospect: Cross culvert replacement (#210240) on Route 174, located 0.06 of a mile south of the Frankfort town line.
  • Winterport: Cross culvert replacement (#996857) on Route 1A, located 0.17 of a mile south of the Hampden town line.
  • Unity, Monmouth, Winthrop: Funding to address ADA deficiencies in association with highway improvement projects at various locations.

Highway System Operations

  • Prospect, Verona Island: Funding for general operating costs at the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, located on Route 1 at the Prospect–Verona Island town line.

Highway Transit Service Area

  • Belfast: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Bus and Bus Facilities funding for Waldo Community Action Partners, including one ADA-accessible van.
  • Belfast: Capital assistance funding for statewide rural transit agencies.

Ports and Harbors

  • Searsport: Work within the commercial channel serving Mack Point.

Special Programs

  • Islesboro: Scoping and design to advance Phase 1 of the project to 60% design, consistent with Maine Climate Council guidance for managing sea level rise.
  • Lincolnville: Municipal large culvert replacement located 0.51 of a mile east of Camden Road.
  • Northport: Shoreline stabilization of the bank and Shore Road at Kelly Cove.
  • Prospect: Municipal large culvert replacement over Lane Brook.

View the entire 2026-2027-2028 Three-Year MDOT Work Plan at www.mainedot.gov.

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