The Maine Department of Transportation has decided to postpone a planned northbound lane closure on Interstate 295 near Yarmouth scheduled for this weekend.
The move comes after discussions with the Maine Turnpike Authority, Maine Innkeepers Association and the Maine Office of Tourism. The department concluded that it will work with its contractor to set a new lane closure date in September.
Closure of the lane last weekend during a period of heavy tourist traffic led to long traffic backups, and criticism of the agency’s decision.
The department said that attempts to perform the Royal River Bridge work in June, when traffic volumes were lighter, were thwarted by rain. Although the majority of the work in the I-295 Northbound Rehabilitation Project is being done overnight, the 24-hour, two-day closures are necessary due to extensive concrete repairs to major elements of the bridge.
Information on the improvements for I-295, including a sign-up for e-mail alerts, maps and more, is available online at mainedot.gov.
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