HOULTON, Maine — Road construction signs have been popping up around the Shiretown in the past week, prompting many residents to wonder when the paving delays might begin.
According to Jon Bither, project manager for the northern region of the Maine Department of Transportation’s Highway Program, residents can expect to see work begin in the coming week and last through Sept. 20.
Three projects, covering a 5.48-mile span, have been targeted by the MDOT for repaving in Houlton at a cost of $2,356,291. Steelstone Industries of Houlton has been contracted for the paving projects.
U.S. Route 2 (Military Street), starting at the intersection of Kendall Street, will be repaved up to White Settlement Road.
The most congested location, involves grinding and repaving U.S. Route 1 (North Street), starting at the Route 2/Kendall Street intersection and extending north to about the Tractor Supply Company.
“During June the contractor plans to concentrate work on Route 1 from approximately Smyrna Street to north end of project by Tractor Supply, and on Route 2 from the Foxcroft Road to White Settlement Road,” Bither said. “On Route 1, the work scheduled for June will include adjustment of existing catch basin and sewer manhole frames as needed, followed by removal/milling of 1.5 inches of existing asphalt pavement, followed by the repavement of a new 1.5-inch layer of hot mix asphalt.”
The Route 2/Military St. project work scheduled for June will be from Foxcroft Road to White Settlement Road.
“Existing catch basins will be adjusted and there are two areas where the existing pavement will be milled and a shim course pavement placed and the remaining area from Foxcroft Road to White Settlement road will have a shim course pavement placed,” Bither said.
Court Street, beginning at the Houlton-Hodgdon town line and continuing two miles to the traffic light near the U.S. Post Office, will be repaved. That work is slated to take place between June 30-July 3, to avoid conflict associated with heavy traffic during Houlton’s Fourth of July celebration.
Keeping the traffic flowing on the North Road is a high priority, Bither said.
“Every effort is being made to maintain traffic flow in both directions at all times,” he said. “Only one lane of the four lanes will be closed at a time. All business driveways will be kept open at all times. Please drive carefully and slow down to allow for a Safe Work Zone for the personnel completing the work.”
