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

Posted: January 24, 2020 | Senator Vitelli

Sen. Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, is pleased to announce the details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for Sagadahoc County and the town of Dresden in Lincoln 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.

“Our state needs well-maintained and reliable transportation infrastructure so that Mainers can get to work, school, errands, and everything else they do day-to-day,” said Sen. Vitelli. “I’m glad to see these projects planned in Sagadahoc County and Dresden, and I’m thankful for all the work that DOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note and other DOT workers put into this plan and in executing it.”

According to the MDOT, the work plan covers approximately $2.59 billion worth of construction and maintenance, which includes 2,051 work items. The three-year plan estimates MDOT will invest in 171 miles of highway construction and rehabilitation; 858 miles of pavement preservation; 1,800 miles of light capital paving for roads and highways; 170 safety and spot improvements; and 148 bridge projects.

The following breakdown is the planned capital and maintenance work for the communities in Senate District 23 in 2020:

Bridge Work:

  • Bridge replacement of the Frank J. Wood Bridge which carries Route 201 over the Androscoggin River at the Brunswick/Topsham town line.
  • Repairing wingwalls on Blacksmith Shop Bridge which carries Litchfield Road over Blacksmith Shop Brook in Bowdoin. The bridge is located 210 feet north of Route 125.
  • Header repairs on three bridges which carry Route 138 over Interstate 295 in Bowdoinham.
  • Replacing the wearing surface on Lower Bridge which carries Route 128 over the Eastern River in Dresden. The bridge is located 0.47 miles north of Indian Road.
  • Bridge rehabilitation work on Max L. Wilder Memorial Bridge which carries Route 127 over Sasonoa River in Arrowsic and Woolwich. The bridge is located 0.21 miles south of Route 1.
  • Bridge wearing surface replacement work on the Paul Davis Memorial Bridge which carries High Street over Route 1 in Bath. The bridge is located 0.10 miles north of Union Street.
  • Preliminary engineering on Middle Bridge in Dresden, which carries Route 197 over Easter River. The bridge is located 0.28 miles west of Route 127.

Custodial Maintenance:

  • Right-of-way vegetation management on Route 1 in Woolwich and Wiscassett beginning at George Wright Road going north 7.36 miles to Birch Point Road.

Drainage Maintenance:

  • Ditching and replacing culverts on the Litchfield Road and Meadow Road in Bowdoin. Beginning at the intersection of the Litchfield Road and Wagg Road and extending north 1 mile to the Jim Rideout Road.
  • Ditching on the White Road in Bowdoinham and Richmond. Beginning at the intersection of White Road and Route 24 and extending north 4.92 miles to Route 197 in Richmond.
  • Replacing and repairing culvert and catch basin on Route 197 in Richmond and Dresden. Beginning 200 feet east of the intersection of Route 24 and Route 197 in Richmond and 300 feet west of the intersection of Route 128 and Route 197 in Dresden.
  • Ditching and cleaning under guardrail on the Alexander Reed Road in Richmond, beginning at Route 201 and extending west 2.75 miles, then extending south 2.88 miles to the intersection of Alexander Reed Road and Route 197.
  • Ditching Berrys Mill Road in West Bath, beginning at State Road and extending south 3.53 miles to Campbell’s Pond Road.

Bicycle/Pedestrian:

  • New construction on Oak Grove Avenue in Bath, beginning at Crawford Drive and extending south 0.41 miles, plus 0.02 of a mile for divided highway, then beginning at Oak Grove Avenue and extending west 0.15 miles to Old Brunswick Road.

Highway Paving:

  • Work on Route 125 in Bowdoin and Bowdoinham, beginning at the Lisbon town line and extending east 5.94 miles.
  • Work on Route 125 in Bowdoinham, beginning at Route 138 and extending southeast 0.66 miles to Route 24.
  • Work on Route 197 in Dresden and Richmond, beginning 0.04 miles east of River Road and extending east 2.53 miles.
  • Work on Route 197 in Richmond, beginning at Ridge Road and extending east 2.82 miles.
  • Work on Thorofare Road in Litchfield and Richmond, beginning at Plains Road and extending east 0.82 of a mile to Route 201.
  • Work on Route 196 in Lisbon and Topsham, beginning 0.18 miles southeast of Birch Ridge Avenue and extending northwest 5.48 miles.
  • Work on River Road in Topsham, beginning 0.39 miles west of Whitehouse Crossing Road and extending north 1.10 miles to Lewiston Road.
  • Work on Campbell’s Pond Road in West Bath, beginning at Berrys Mill Road and extending north 0.79 miles to the Bath town line.

Highway Safety and Spot Improvements:

  • Preliminary engineering on the large culvert on Route 1 in Woolwich located 0.19 miles northeast of Shaw Road.

Natural Resource Monitoring:

  • On the Maine Kennebec Bridge, which carries Route 197 over the Lower Kennebec River on the Dresden/Richmond town line.

Policy, Planning and Research:

  • Collaborative study with the City of Bath and Bath Iron Works to evaluate pedestrian safety and parking opportunities prominent to BIW. This is directly related to prior pedestrian injuries or near misses.
  • Public advisory process for future use of the rail corridor between Topsham and Gardiner, including Bowdoinham and Richmond.
  • Bicycle/pedestrian feasibility study in Brunswick and Topsham, beginning at the Swinging Bridge, to Mill Street, Bow Street and Cabot Street and extending 0.32 miles to the Frank J. Wood Bridge.

The entire MDOT three-year work plan can be viewed here.