Work plan for state bridge and road projects unveiled

Posted: January 13, 2017 | Senator Carpenter

AUGUSTA – Democratic Sen. Mike Carpenter of Houlton is pleased to share the details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for central and southern Aroostook County and parts of northern Penobscot County. 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.

“People living in rural parts of the state rely on roads and bridges to be in good, working condition,” said Sen. Carpenter. “I am glad to see this crucial investment in Aroostook and Penobscot counties.”

According to the MDOT, the work plan includes more than $2.3 billion worth of construction and maintenance, of which $537 million is scheduled for 632 capital projects in 2017. 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. Carpenter stressed the importance of funding for the MDOT work plan and its investment to Aroostook County, Penobscot County and the entire state. The following breakdown is what the planned capital and maintenance work will mean for the region in 2017:

Aviation

  • Safety and infrastructure improvements that may include the acquisition of snow removal equipment at the Houlton International Airport in Houlton
  • Safety and infrastructure improvements that may include acquisition of snow removal equipment, construction of pond alternatives and crack sealing  at the Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle

Bridge Construction

  • Work on Hodgdon Mills Bridge over the South Branch Meduxnekeag River in Hodgdon. Located 0.05 of a mile east of South McIntyre Road

Bridge Work (Other)

  • Work on the McShea Crossing Bridge over Maine Central Railroad in Fort Fairfield. Located 0.32 of a mile northeast of Conant Road
  • Work on 4 bridges on Interstate 95 between Benedicta and Houlton

Highway Preservation Paving

  • Work beginning on Interstate 95, 0.24 of a mile south of Ramp C on Route 159 in Island Falls and extending south 10.72 miles to 0.11 of a mile north of the off-ramp to Route 158 in Sherman
  • Work beginning on Interstate 95, 0.03 of a mile south of the Oakfield town line and extending south 10.09 miles to 0.24 of a mile north of Ramp C from Route 159 in Island Falls
  • Work beginning 1.82 miles north of East Ridge Road in Mars Hill and extending north 6.35 miles to Easton
  • Work beginning 0.31 of a mile north of Easton Road in Presque Isle and extending northeast 4.77 miles to Route 1A in Fort Fairfield
  • Work on Cross culvert located 1.43 miles south of Dumond Road in Fort Fairfield
  • Work beginning at State Street in Presque Isle and extending north 1.74 miles to Route 1

Highway Rehabilitation

  • Work beginning 0.5 of a mile south of Oliver Road in Cary Plantation and extending north 7.9 miles through Hodgdon and into Houlton

Highway Construction

  • Work beginning 0.2 miles south of Bubar Road in Blaine and extending north 1.59 miles

Highway Safety and Spot Improvements

  • Work beginning 0.02 of a mile east of Interstate 95 Ramp D in Island Falls and extending west 1.16 miles
  • Work on a large culvert in Dyer Brook located 1.76 miles north of Pond Road
  • Work on a large culvert located 0.08 of a mile south of Ingraham Road in Littleton
  • Work on a large culvert located 0.54 of a mile east of Station Road in New Limerick
  • Work on large culvert located 1.21 miles east of Campbell Road in New Limerick
  • Work beginning 0.02 of mile south of Ridge Road in Oakfield and extending north 0.60 of a mile to Interstate 95 northbound off-ramp to Smyrna Road
  • Work on the McBurnie Road in Presque Isle, located 1.10 miles north of Washburn Road
  • Replacing obsolete guardrail systems on Route 227 in Presque Isle

Highway Light Capital Paving

  • Paving stretches of the following roads in the Presque Isle area: Canaan Road, Garfield Road, Parsons Road, Route 161, Route 227, Page Avenue
  • Paving stretches of the following roads in the Houlton area: Foxcroft Road, Ludlow Road, and New Limerick Road
  • Paving stretches of the following roads in the Medway area: Route 116, Route 158, Route 2A, Route 2, Aroostook Road

Maintenance

  • Repairing drains and center beam on Robinson Bridge in Blaine
  • Producing, hauling and providing additional support activities for the placement of plant mix recycled asphalt pavement beginning 0.50 miles south of the Oliver Road in Cary Plantation and extending north 7.90 miles to the Hodgdon-Houlton town line
  • Ditching various locations from the intersection of Route 2 in Dyer Brook extending to the Oakfield Smyrna Road
  • Repairing curbs, drains, and guardrail on Moose Brook Bridge in Houlton, which carries Route 2 over Moose Brook
  • Repairing a bridge abutment on Goodall Bridge, located 0.15 of a mile from the intersection of the Currie Road in Oakfield and the abutment and pier on Fish Stream Bridge, located 0.10 of a mile from the junction of Bog Brook Road in Island Falls
  • Repairing bridge rail and guardrail at Cold Brook Bridge, located 0.09 of a mile north of the Cold Brook Road in Island Falls
  • Repairing damaged wood on Watson Covered Bridge in Littleton over the Meduxnekeag River
  • Replacing seven culverts beginning 1.42 miles north of the intersection of Route 168 and extending 1 mile south of Route 170 (Winn/Mattawamkeag/Macwahoc Plt. area)
  • Repairing sidewalk and replacing seals on the Prestile Stream Bridge in Mars Hill, which carries Route 1A over Prestile Stream
  • Repairing wing wall on the Prestile Bridge in Westfield, which carries the Burleigh Road over Prestile Stream
  • Ditching various locations from the intersection of Route 1 in Monticello extending east to the Canadian Border
  • Ditching and replacing culverts on the McBurnie Road in Presque Isle,  beginning at the intersection of Route 164 and extending in a north 3.41 miles
  • Repairing wing walls and fascias on Hanson bridge in Presque Isle, located 0.21 of a mile east of the Mapleton-Presque Isle town line
  • Repairing fascia, curb, drains and railing on Village Bridge in Sherman, which carries Route 158 over Molunkus Stream, located 0.07 of a mile east of the intersection of Extract Road
  • Ditching various locations beginning at the intersection of the Springfield Road and Route 168 and extending east to the Winn-Lee town line

Click here to view local road assistance totals and maintenance accomplishments for 2016, the funding estimates for 2017 projects, and the full list of Amity, Blaine, Bridgewater, Carroll Plantation, Cary Plantation, Chapman, Crystal, Drew Plantation, Dyer Brook, Easton, Fort Fairfield, Glenwood Plantation, Hammond, Haynesville, Hersey, Hodgdon, Houlton, Island Falls, Lakeville, Lee, Linneus, Littleton, Ludlow, Macwahoc Plantation, Mars Hill, Merrill, Monticello, Moro Plantation, Mount Chase, New Limerick, Oakfield, Orient, Patten, Presque Isle, Reed Plantation, Sherman, Smyrna, Springfield, Stacyville, Webster Plantation, Westfield, Weston, and Winn projects for years 2018 and 2019.

The entire MDOT work plan can be viewed here.

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