UPDATE: Fourth southbound Hampden Bridge Bundle traffic shift

Fri, 10/22/2021 - 4:30pm

The fourth shift of the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project is now planned for the evening of Tuesday, October 26. The original date was changed because of the weather forecast and equipment issues.

Original news release:

HAMPDEN — As part of the ongoing work on the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project, the Maine Department of Transportation will be shifting southbound I-95 traffic to the fourth of four temporary diversion roads on the evening October 25. This traffic shift will happen at the Emerson Mill Road Bridge over the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Southbound traffic is expected to continue using these four diversion roads throughout the winter, according to MDOT, in a news release. Interstate speed limits will be reduced to 55 MPH on these four diversion roads for the duration of their use.

“We encourage drivers to drive carefully, observe signage, and obey speed limits while passing through work zones,” said MDOT. “The safety of our crews and contracting partners is MaineDOT's top priority.”

Four bridge replacements on the northbound side I-95 were substantially completed in September. Northbound traffic is now using the four new interstate bridges.
 
The Hampden Bridge Bundle Project involves rebuilding eight bridges and rehabilitating a ninth bridge along a four-mile stretch of I-95 in Hampden. The eight bridge replacements are happening on both the northbound and southbound sides of the interstate at four sites between Exits 174 and 180. Three of these bridge pairs cross the Souadabscook Stream and one pair crosses Emerson Mill Road and the Central Maine & Quebec Railway. The one bridge rehabilitation involved with this project is happening at the Exit 180 off-ramp on Cold Brook Road over I-95.

The contractor on the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project is Cianbro Corporation. The contract amount is $44.8 million. The estimated completion date of the project is November 30, 2022.