News Release for August 15, 2007

Contact: Colby Atwood, 624 - 8203

CULVERT WORK TO DETOUR NOBLEBORO TRAFFIC

Drivers using the East Pond Road in Nobleboro should allow a little extra travel time next Monday and Tuesday (August 20th-21st), according to the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT).

“We need to replace a culvert that crosses beneath the East Pond Road between the two ends of the Upper Pond Road in Nobleboro.  The existing culvert has deteriorated over time and needs to be replaced,” explained Colby Atwood of MaineDOT’s Region 2 Office, where the work is being coordinated.

“The culvert is three feet across and is buried about fifteen feet beneath the roadway surface.  The most efficient, safest and quickest way to replace it is to close the road completely for two days,” Atwood noted.  “We’ll be closing the East Pond Road to through traffic on Monday, August 20th and reopening it late in the day on Tuesday, August 21st if all goes well.”

Atwood says that during the closure, traffic will be directed onto the Upper Pond Road as a detour route.  “The Upper Pond Road has two intersections with the East Pond Road and the closure will be between those two intersections, so it makes a very convenient detour,” he explained.

Local residents and others needing access to properties along the closed section of East Pond Road will still have local access, but no through traffic will be allowed, Atwood noted.  “The actual closure is about 2.1 miles north of the south end of the Upper Pond Road and about a quarter mile south of the north end of the Upper Pond Road.  Drivers can still use the closed portion of the East Pond Road from each end to the actual work area, but no traffic will be allowed through the work area itself,” he continued.

“The closure will be in place overnight Monday night, so people using the East Pond Road will want to plan accordingly.  We also urge drivers to use extra care using the detour on the Upper Pond Road.  It’s a narrow road and not all drivers using it may be familiar with it.  A little extra care and patience on everyone’s part will help us get through this project safely,” he concluded.

#   #   #