Reconstruction of the Payne Road bridge near the Maine Mall will be finished before the end of October, eight months ahead of schedule, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.

Only finishing touches remain, including final installation of additional lights. The new, wider bridge has three lanes in each direction and a new sidewalk. Payne Road Bridge carries traffic over the Maine Turnpike/Interstate 95 connector at Exit 45.

The reconstruction of the Payne Road Bridge was announced in October 2005 as part of a comprehensive set of roadway improvement projects for the Maine Mall area.

Projects already completed include the addition of a right turn lane on the Maine Mall Road at the intersection of Running Hill Road and Gorham Road, the redevelopment of the intersection of Western Avenue and Westbrook Street, and the creation of Jetport Plaza Road adjacent to the Portland International Jetport.

Western Avenue currently is being widened from two to five lanes. It will have two lanes in each direction with a center turning lane, wider shoulders, and sidewalks on both sides. Paving began this week. MaineDOT will maintain two lanes of traffic at all times, with occasional delays necessary to position equipment. Installation of granite curbs and sidewalks also will begin. Work will continue until December, and then will be suspended for the winter. The project is scheduled for completion in early summer.

Work has begun on the creation of a new entrance ramp to Interstate-295 that will allow right-turn access from Westbrook Street and West Broadway. This will eliminate the need to cross oncoming traffic on Westbrook Street to enter I-295 northbound. This project involves building a bridge over Westbrook Street.

Preparations for the bridge work will continue this fall, with bridge construction beginning this winter. Little if any impact on traffic is expected until spring. Completion is planned for mid-2009.

As work continues on the Western Avenue and the I-295 entrance projects, MaineDOT will continue to provide project details and updates through its web site, www.mainedot.gov as well as through email updates to those who register for them at that site.



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