Work crews Monday will begin clearing brush on the newly-acquired, state-owned Mountain Division rail right-of way between Route 202 in South Windham and Brown Street in Westbrook.

The work is expected to take approximately two weeks and will consist of an excavator with a mechanical cutting head and support crew working along the 5.2 mile rail line.

The Maine Department of Transportation is supervising the work.

Clearing the brush will allow officials to inspect the culverts and drainage and properly maintain the corridor for future rail service, said Nathan Moulton, the department's rail program director.

The newly-acquired piece of the Mountain Division rail corridor will connect with the rest of the state-owned rail line that currently exists between South Windham and Fryeburg.