ROCKPORT — Work has begun by the Maine Department of Transportation on repaving Main Street in Rockland from Park Street to Maverick Street (McDonald’s). Workers will work at night to minimize disruption to traffic and business in downtown Rockland. Work began Sunday evening at 8 p.m. and is scheduled to continue until June 22.   

Expect one lane of traffic through the downtown area at night with some possible delays as heavy equipment moves about. The DOT said the night work allows their equipment access to both sides of the street freely. The first part of the process is called milling. That entails taking up all the old layers of pavement.

There will be full access to the businesses and sidewalks during all the repaving. As for parking, there are lots located off Tillson Avenue in the Thorndike Block, between Tillson and Winter streets, between School and Limerock streets, and between Oak and Orient streets, and at the Public Landing.

The street will not be closed to traffic, and vehicles and traffic will be able to enter and exit Main Street from the parking lots, as well as the cross streets.

During a recent City Council meeting, Councilor Elizabeth Dickerson raised concerns regarding the new curbs and crosswalks the city had just installed and questioned how the DOT would be dealing with them.

“The curbs and crosswalks will not be removed,” said City Manager James Smith. “A protective layer is to be placed over them and the DOT will grind away the old surface up to their edge. It’s a much better deal for us because we get a new road instead of just patchwork.”