Sen. Nicole Grohoski shares 2025 MDOT work plan for state bridge and road projects

Posted: March 11, 2025 | Senator Grohoski

AUGUSTA – Sen. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, is pleased to announce the details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for Senate District 7. 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. It seeks to fulfill MDOT’s mission “to support economic opportunity and quality of life by responsibly providing [its] customers the safest and most reliable transportation system possible, given available resources.”

The three-year work plan makes a historic $4.8 billion investment in construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure. It includes 2,716 individual work items for the calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027. It represents smart and steady progress across transportation modes, and it benefits everyone who lives, works or does business in Maine.

“Investing in infrastructure is a core function of state government that affects our everyday lives,” said Sen. Grohoski. “Throughout coastal Hancock County, it is critical to fund improvements to the roads, bridges, culverts, ferries, piers, public transportation and bicycle routes that connect Maine communities on the mainland and off the coast. The increasing frequency and severity of storms along the coast make this work even more important. Our critical need for infrastructure that reliably connects Mainers over land and water and across the internet drives my work as a member of both the Taxation and Energy, Utilities and Technology Committees.” 

The following breakdown is the planned capital and maintenance work by MDOT for communities in Senate District 7 in 2025:

Airport Operations

  • Trenton: Construction of a new runway/taxiway at the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport and possible easement and land acquisition for Runways 3 and 22. Safety and infrastructure improvements will also include obstruction removal, design and permitting for eagle monitoring, as well as construction of a snow removal equipment building.

Bicycle/Bus/Pedestrian

  • Bar Harbor: Construct an off-road path/trail on Route 3, beginning at Lily Way and extending south 0.70 of a mile through a Business Partnership Initiative.
  • Ellsworth: Extend the Ellsworth Multiuse Trail along Spring Street and Beals Avenue.
  • Ellsworth: Through a Village Partnership Initiative, conduct a study evaluating pedestrian, bicycle, accessibility and mobility improvements in Downtown Ellsworth, located along Route 1, Route 3, Route 230, Main Street, State Street and Water Street. It will also address climate resiliency.
  • Trenton: Allocate funds for the Acadia Gateway Annual Maintenance Agreement for the Acadia Gateway Center.

Bridge and Structural Maintenance

  • Bar Harbor: Replace Cromwell Brook Bridge on Ledgelawn Avenue over Cromwell Brook, located 0.03 of a mile north of White Spruce Road.
  • Blue Hill: Replace the bridge superstructure for Village Bridge on Route 15 over Mill Stream, located 0.04 of a mile northeast of Water Street.
  • Deer Isle, Sedgwick: Conduct a capital improvement investigation of Deer Isle-Sedgwick Bridge on Route 15 over Eggemoggin Reach to determine the remaining service life of the bridge and the longer-term need for its replacement.
  • Ellsworth: Make improvements to Main Street Bridge on Route 1 over Union River on Route 1, located 0.10 of a mile east of South Street.
  • Verona Island: Make improvements to bridge curbs and rails and repair damage at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory on Route 1 over the Penobscot River, located on the Prospect-Verona Town Line. Fund operating costs and award the construction contract for the installation of safety fencing on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.

Drainage Maintenance

  • Bar Harbor: Replace a large culvert on Route 102, located 0.05 of a mile north of Pine Heath Road.
  • Blue Hill: Replace a large culvert on Route 172, located 0.34 of a mile north of Timberledge Lane.
  • Brooklin: Replace a large culvert on Route 175, located 0.34 of a mile south of Hales Woods Road.
  • Brooksville: Replace a large culvert on Route 176, located 0.59 of a mile east of Ferry Road.
  • Castine: Ditch along Route 166A, beginning at the intersection of Route 166 and extending 4.14 miles north to the intersection of Route 166 and replace a culvert on Route 166A, located 0.74 of a mile north of the intersection of Route 166.
  • Ellsworth: Replace a large culvert on Route 230, located 0.31 of a mile north of Beechland Road.
  • Ellsworth, Trenton: Ditch and replace culverts along Route 230, beginning at the intersection of Beechland Road in Ellsworth and extending 12.36 miles southeast to the intersection of Route 3 in Trenton.
  • Lamoine: Replace a large culvert on Route 204, located 0.29 of a mile east of Buttermilk Road.
  • Penobscot: Ditch and replace culverts along Route 199, beginning at the Castine-Penobscot Town Line and extending 10.30 miles northeast to the intersection of Route 15 in Penobscot.
  • Sedgwick: Make improvements to a large culvert on Route 172, located 0.33 of a mile south of Hales Hill Road.
  • Sedgwick: Replace a large culvert on Route 15, located 0.14 of a mile southwest of Herrick Road.
  • Southwest Harbor: Ditch along Seal Cove Road, beginning at the intersection of Long Pond Road and extending 0.56 of a mile to the intersection of Route 102.
  • Verona Island: Ditch, repair shoulders and replace culverts along West Side Drive and East Side Drive, beginning at the intersection of Route 1 and extending 8.64 miles. Replace a culvert located 2.99 miles south of the intersection of Route 1.

Ferry/Pier Operations

  • Cranberry Isles:  Distribute rural transit operating funds for the Cranberry Isles Ferry.
  • Isle au Haut: Distribute rural transit operating funds for the Isle au Haut Ferry.
  • Swans Island and Tremont: Rehabilitate/replace Ferry Service Transfer Bridges in Bass Harbor and Swan’s Island.

Highway Construction/Rehabilitation and Safety Improvements

  • Bar Harbor: Develop and implement safety improvements along West Street Extension and the Acadia National Park entrance. Please note that the project is awaiting a federal discretionary grant. It will not proceed until awarded.
  • Blue Hill: Rehabilitate Route 15, beginning at the Sedgwick Town Line and extending north 2.09 miles.
  • Blue Hill: Make improvements to Route 175, beginning 0.22 of a mile southeast of Parker Point Road and extending southeast 0.08 of a mile.
  • Brooksville, Penobscot, Sedgwick: Make roadside improvements and remove ledges at various locations on Route 176, beginning at Mines Road in Sedgwick and extending north 3.51 miles.
  • Deer Isle: Make improvements to Route 15, beginning 0.15 of a mile northwest of Hardy’s Hill Road and extending northwest 0.62 of a mile. Please note that the project is contingent on Congressional Directed Spending approval.
  • Deer Isle, Stonington: Rehabilitate Route 15, beginning 0.03 of a mile north of Indian Point Road and extending north 8.13 miles.
  • Ellsworth: Reconstruct intersection of Route 1/Route 172.
  • Ellsworth: Reconstruct Route 1A, beginning 0.04 of a mile north of State Street and extending south 0.62 of a mile. Please note that the project funding is contingent on Congressionally Directed Spending approval.
  • Ellsworth and Mount Desert: Make ADA improvements at various locations.
  • Southwest Harbor: Improve emergency response on Route 102A, beginning 0.01 of a mile south of Seascape Lane and extending south 0.50 of mile.
  • Trenton: Protect and stabilize slopes along Route 3, located 0.49 of a mile north of the Bar Harbor Town Line.

Highway Paving

  • Blue Hill, Orland, Surry: Pave Route 176, beginning at Route 3 and extending southeast 19.47 miles to Route 172.
  • Castine: Pave Route 166A, beginning at the south intersection with Route 16 and extending north 4.14 miles to the north intersection with Route 166.
  • Castine, Penobscot: Pave Route 166, beginning at Main Street and extending north 6.93 miles to Route 175.
  • Ellsworth [and Hancock]: Apply hot mix asphalt to Main Street and Washington Junction Road, beginning 0.02 of a mile northeast of McKenzie Avenue and extending northeast 3.75 miles.
  • Lamoine [and Hancock]: Pave Mud Creek Road, beginning at Route 204 and extending north 2.91 miles to Route 1.
  • Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor: Pave Route 102, beginning at Pretty Marsh Road and extending south 4.57 miles.
  • Sedgwick: Pave Route 172, beginning at Route 175 and extending north 3.45 miles.
  • Sedgwick: Pave Sedgwick Ridge Road, beginning at Route 172 and extending north 4.10 miles to Route 15.
  • Swans Island: Pave Harbor Road and Atlantic Road, beginning at North Road and extending northeast 2.58 miles to Thomas Road.

View the entire 2025 Three-Year MDOT Work Plan at www.mainedot.gov.

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