Work plan for state bridge and road projects unveiled

Posted: February 01, 2016 | Senator Patrick

AUGUSTA – Democratic Sen. John Patrick of Rumford is pleased to share the details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for Senate District 18. The plan is released annually with an outline of the Maine Department of Transportation’s strategy for road, bridge and other transportation projects throughout the state.

“Our transportation infrastructure in Maine is a vital part of our everyday lives and I will continue to support this important funding,” said Sen. Patrick. “I look forward to seeing the results of this work around the district over the next few years.”

According to the MDOT, the work plan includes more than $2.2 billion worth of construction and maintenance, of which $520 million is scheduled for 497 capital projects in 2016. Included are projects for highways and bridges, transit (bus), passenger and freight railroad, aviation, ferries, ports and other marine facilities, and bicycle-pedestrian access.

Sen. Patrick stressed the importance of funding for the MDOT work plan and its investment to the area and the entire state. The following breakdown is what the planned capital and maintenance work will mean for the communities of Senate District 18 in 2016:

Aviation

  • Safety and infrastructure improvements at the Bethel Regional Airport.

Bridge Construction

  • Brickett Bridge over West Branch Ellis Bridge on North Main Street in Andover.
  • Gerry Bridge over Kezar River on Route 93 in Lovell.
  • Androscoggin River Bridge over Androscoggin River on Main Street at the Peru/Mexico town line.

Bridge Work (Other)

  • Upgrade of the Bethel Rail Bridge to a 286k load rating on the Saint Lawrence and Atlantic Railway in Bethel. This project is a 50/50 public/private effort.
  • Hall Bridge over Nezinscott River on Route 117 in Buckfield.
  • Upper Canal Bridge over Mill Canal on Route 108 in Rumford.

Highway Preservation Paving

  • On Route 2 in Carthage, Dixfield, and Wilton, beginning 0.07 miles South of the Carthage/Wilton town line extending east 2.21 miles.
  • On Route 219 in Hartford and Turner, beginning 0.03 miles south of Cowett Road in Hartford and extending northeast 2.84 miles.
  • On Route 219 in Hartford, Sumner, and West Paris, beginning 0.12 miles north of Abbott Hill Road in West Paris and extending east 12.00 miles.
  • On Route 219 in Hartford beginning 0.04 miles north of Cemetery Road and extending east 3.60 miles.

Highway Rehabilitation

  • On Route 17 in Byron and Roxbury beginning 2.40 miles north of the Mexico town line and extending north 6.17 miles.

Highway Safety and Spot Improvements

  • On Route 2 in Dixfield: monitor two culverts on Newton Brook installed to determine use of the culverts by wildlife species that move or migrate along stream corridors located at 0.55 miles north of Canton Point Road.
  • Beginning at the intersection of Route 133 and 17 and extending northerly 1.10 miles to Route 4 along Route 17 in Livermore Falls.
  • On Route 26 in Woodstock, beginning 0.06 miles east of Rumford Avenue and extending west 2.51 miles.

Maintenance

  • Replacing roofing on the Lovejoy Bridge which carries the Covered Bridge Road over the Ellis River in Andover.
  • Replacing culverts on the East Bethel Road in Bethel and on Route 120 in Roxbury.
  • On Route 17, ditching and replacing culverts beginning at the Franklin-Oxford county line and extending to Township D and beginning at South Shore Drive in Rangeley Plantation and extending to West Side Drive in Rangeley.
  • Ditching on Route 2 in Dixfield beginning 0.39 of a mile north of Merrill Road and extending 6.6 miles to Green Street.
  • Ditching on Route 17 in Byron beginning at the Swift River Bridge and extending 5.86 miles to the Township E town line.
  • Replacing culverts beginning at the Walker Brook Road in Roxbury and extending northerly to the Byron/Township E town line.
  • Ditching on Route 16 starting at the New Hampshire State line and extending 2.78 miles to the Lincoln Plantation-Magalloway Plantation town line and replacing culverts on Route 16 in Lincoln Plantation.
  • Repairing catch basins in Livermore Falls on Route 17, Park Street, Church Street and Union Street. Also on Route 133 in Livermore Falls and Route 156 in Wilton and Route 4 in Jay.
  • Repairing catch basins on Harlow Hill Road in Mexico and Route 108 in Peru.
  • Repairing wearing surface, approach work, and sealing joints on Martins Bridge, which carries Route 2 over the Ellis River in Rumford.

Other Work

  • Improvements to the Bethel Visitor Information Center.

Click here to view local road assistance totals and maintenance accomplishments for 2015, the funding estimates for 2016 projects, and the full list of Andover, Bethel, Buckfield, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Gilead, Greenwood, Hanover, Hartford, Hebron, Lincoln Plantation, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Lovell, Magalloway Plantation, Mexico, Newry, Peru, Roxbury, Rumford, Stoneham, Stow, Sumner, Sweden, Upton, Waterford, West Paris, and Woodstock projects for years 2017 and 2018.

The entire MDOT work plan can be viewed here.