AUGUSTA — Construction crews must close one lane of Interstate 95 southbound tonight and tomorrow in order to repair bridge joints on the Bond Brook Bridge and the Civic Center Drive bridge. The left side passing lane will remain closed until the weekend.
 
The Maine Department of Transportation said in a news release that, in order to replace the rubber bridge joint seal on these bridges, crews must close the lane and remove the surrounding concrete. Once the seal is replaced, crews will replace the concrete, and will keep that portion of the bridge closed to traffic as the concrete sets.
 
This bridge joint repair is part of a larger project on I-95 that stretches from the Densmore Road in Sidney south nine miles to the Maine Turnpike in Augusta. In the upcoming weeks, crews will begin removing the existing, deteriorating pavement, and repaving this section of I-95 southbound.
 
Crews will also be working on drainage and culvert improvements, guardrail and slope improvement. There will be some work done to exit ramps along this stretch. Variable message signs will be alerting motorists to upcoming lane and ramp closures during the construction. After June 8, crews will be working at night. If there are no unexpected delays, construction should be completed by mid-August.
 
Pike Industries of Lewiston is the contractor for this $4.1 million project.