LEWISTON — The Maine Turnpike Authority will start shifting turnpike traffic in Lewiston to the new bridge that is part of the ongoing Exit 80 interchange project on Sunday night.
According to a written statement from MTA, the work will occur at night over four days, weather permitting, to minimize impact to motorists.
Starting at 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, all northbound and southbound traffic will be diverted down the off-ramps, cross Alfred Plourde Parkway, and re-enter the turnpike via the on-ramps.
According to MTA, this will allow crews to relocate concrete barriers from the northbound to the southbound lanes.
All traffic will resume in both directions at 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4. Southbound traffic will use the new bridge; northbound traffic will stay on the old bridge until Tuesday.
The same process will take place starting at 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, lasting through 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5. At that point, both southbound and northbound traffic will use the new bridge, and northbound traffic will use the median crossover.
Work will continue overnight Tuesday to Wednesday morning, with traffic diverted in the same way. By 5 a.m. Wednesday, MTA expects traffic in both directions will resume in the new traffic pattern.
On Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., traffic will be stopped in 8-minute intervals to allow crews to stripe and mark the pavement.
Motorists seeking to get off or on the turnpike at Exit 80 will be able to do so at all times during the changeover process, according to MTA, but they may experience delays.
The work is part of the second phase of a $23 million, three-phase project scheduled for completion in 2017.
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