HALLOWELL -- On Dec. 1, and continuing for three days, the Maine Department of Transportation plans to close the Second Street Bridge in Hallowell to through traffic in order to conduct testing on the bridge's foundation.

Crews will close that section of Second Street starting at 8 a.m. and it will remain closed until the end of the day on Dec. 3. If the work proceeds more quickly than planned, the road will be reopened sooner.

Crews will conduct foundation coring operations that will aid in the design of
the substructure of the planned new Second Street Bridge. Construction on the new bridge is scheduled to begin early in the summer of 2009, and be completed prior to winter.

During the three-day closure, motorists will be directed to a detour that
includes North Street, U.S. Route 201 (Water Street) and Winthrop Street.