RUMFORD — A Maine Department of Transportation project encompassing two downtown bridges beginning in April 2016 includes a detour.
A public meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 3, to discuss a bridge deck replacement for the Upper Canal Bridge, a paint project for the Morse Bridge, and plans to detour Route 108 traffic through the downtown during the 2016 construction season.
The 6 p.m. meeting will take place in the Rumford Falls Auditorium in the Rumford Town Hall, 145 Congress St.
Representatives of MDOT will listen to concerns, receive comments and answer questions from anyone with an interest in the project. The department is particularly interested in learning local views relative to project consistency with local comprehensive plans, discovering local resources and identifying local concerns and issues.
Town Manager John Madigan told selectmen recently that MDOT has decided it will do work on the Canal and Morse bridges simultaneously, which will take two to three months. This is a $2 million project, with $1.5 million going toward repainting Morse Bridge.
While the heavy traffic will be rerouted over Route 2, he said a temporary road will be made from Route 108 to the back of the old Agway building to Hartford Street for traffic to gain access to the Island.
Madigan said there will be a public information meeting prior to the start of the project.
Any inquiries regarding this project may be directed to the attention of Andrew Lathe, project manager, Maine Department of Transportation, Bridge Program, 16 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0016, or call 441-7362 or email andrew.w.lathe@maine.gov.
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