The town of Richmond will host a regional informational meeting Wednesday to discuss a state proposal that would shut down the Interstate 295 southbound travel lanes between West Gardiner and Topsham this summer.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Richmond High School cafeteria at 132 Main St.

Officials with the Maine Department of Transportation say closing the southbound lane will significantly reduce the amount of time it will take to rebuild that 20-mile stretch of highway.

However, traffic would have to be detoured onto Route 201, a decision that will impact the towns of Gardiner, Richmond, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Topsham. The construction period would last about three months.