Rush-hour traffic was heavier than usual along U.S. Route 201 Monday, the first day of a 10-week repaving project on the southbound lanes of Interstate 295 from Gardiner to Topsham.

While traffic did not appear to subside during the prime of the evening rush hour, vehicles flowed steadily without any major traffic snags.

“We understand traffic seems to be moving along steadily at a steady pace,” Department of Transportation spokeswoman Meg Lane said. “This is the first day, however, and we realize we’ve got 10 weeks to go.”

As drivers adjusted to alternate routes, residents of the towns most affected by the detour — Gardiner, Richmond, Bowdoinham, Bowdoin and Topsham — began adjusting to life with higher volumes of traffic.