News Release for August 20, 2007

Contact: Carl Edwards, 624-3598

BRIDGE WORK TO RESTRICT I-95 TRAFFIC IN HOWLAND

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) says traffic using I-95 northbound in Howland should exercise extra care this Wednesday and Thursday (August 22-23) due to bridge maintenance activities.

“We’re going to be restricting northbound traffic to one lane on the bridge carrying I-95 over the Piscatiquis River bridge,” explains Carl Edwards of MaineDOT’s Bridge Maintenance Section.  The bridge is located about two and one-half miles north of Exit 217 and usually carries two lanes of northbound traffic.

“We need to close the lane to provide working space for the supplies and equipment we need to eliminate scour holes which have developed in the riverbed around the piers that support the bridge,” Edwards explains.  “The scoured areas will be filled with grout to assure the continued integrity of the bridge.  It’s part of our routine, ongoing bridge maintenance efforts.

“The repair effort will include the MaineDOT Underwater Dive Team guiding the placement of the grout at the base of the pier, with a pump truck and other support equipment and workers on the bridge deck,” Edwards explains.  “At times things may look rather quiet on the bridge, but our folks in the water will be very busy and working hard.

“We expect to have one-lane traffic in place between 7:00AM and 5:00PM on both Tuesday and Wednesday.  “We realize the lane closure may create an inconvenience to some people, but it’s maintenance work that needs to be done.”

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