Work on the Route 236 bridge over the Great Works River has begun. Last week Kim Ouellette, the Resident Engineer from the Maine Department of Transportation filled me in on the schedule for the project.
Through October and November the crew will be building a temporary bridge on the west side of the current bridge. During construction of the temporary bridge, there may be one lane traffic between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm on weekdays.
Once the temporary bridge is completed, all traffic will be diverted from the current bridge to the temporary bridge and traffic will remain two way through the duration of the project. Work on construction of the permanent bridge will run from December until the projected completion of the project in June 2010.
The bicycle route has been detoured off of Route 236 at Old South Road, south of the bridge, to Pine Street and then to Brattle Street to rejoin Route 236 north of the bridge. Ms. Ouellette urges bicylists to use to detour for safety. She also reminds motorists to watch out for workers in the area of the work and to use caution through the area.
Maine DOT will be maintaining an office in South Berwick for the duration of the project. Kim Ouellette can be reached via email at kimberly.s.ouellette@maine.gov for questions or concerns.
