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 first of four temporary diversion roads on July 20. This traffic shift will happen at the East Bridge over the Souadabscook Stream. Interstate speeds limits will be reduced to 55 MPH through the diversion for the duration of its use. More southbound traffic shifts will continue as this project progresses through the rest of this year and into 2022.

Traffic has already been moved to three of four new bridges on the northbound side of I-95. Vehicles will begin using the fourth new northbound bridge later this year.

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

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.