State and local road crews are preparing for another season of street repairs, and knowing where the fluorescent-clad crews will be working could save a few minutes on a daily commute.
Maine Department of Transportation officials in Augusta have announced that crack sealing operations will begin this week in Caribou and other locations.
In Caribou, crack sealing will take place on Route 164 (the Washburn Road), beginning about one-third of a mile south of Wilbur Avenue and extending southerly to the intersection of Routes 164 and 1 (the Presque Isle Road).
Crack sealing will also occur on Route 161 (the Fort Fairfield Road) about a tenth of a mile south of the Caribou/Fort Fairfield town line, extending northerly about 1.82 miles. There will also be road repairs on Route 161 in Fort Fairfield about a half-mile north of the Hopkins Road intersection extending northwesterly past the Green Ridge Road intersection.
Maine DOT repairs are already underway in eastern Caribou, as crews work to replace the railings of the bridge crossing the Caribou Stream on the Access Highway (Route 89).
Regional Manager for Main DOT’s Northeastern Region Bob Watson said on Monday that the railing repairs started this winter with pre-fabricating of the parts, but actual construction repairs started last week with traffic restricted to one lane. He anticipates the project will be completed around mid-July.
Watson also explained that a paving project is slated for Limestone’s downtown, from the intersection of the Access Highway and the Bog Road, starting after Monday, July 7.
The city of Caribou’s Public Works Department has street improvement projects slated for mid-August; Public Works Director Dave Ouellette explained that the biggest impact of the improvements will be felt when the city crews redo Skyway Road — the road between Burger King and Plourde Furniture off of Bennett Drive.
Ouellette said that most of the city’s projects this summer are in residential areas and while there may be lane limitations with flaggers, traffic disruptions aren’t anticipated.
