HAMPDEN — As part of the ongoing work on the Hampden Bridge Bundle Project, the Maine Department of Transportation will be shifting northbound traffic on I-95 to a temporary diversion road on October 13. This traffic shift will happen at the Center Bridge over the Souadabscook Stream. Interstate speed limits will be reduced to 55 MPH through the diversion for the duration of its use.

“We encourage drivers to drive carefully, observe signage, and obey speed limits while passing through work zones,” said MDOT, in a news release.

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 in this project is happening at the Exit 180 off-ramp on Cold Brook Road over I-95.

“We will be shifting northbound traffic to one more diversion road later in 2020,” said MDOT. “Southbound traffic shifts are planned for 2021.”

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.