FALMOUTH – The Maine Turnpike reopened shortly before midnight after crews from Central Maine Power Co. replaced two utility poles that were slumping toward the highway.
The turnpike was closed between exits 52 and 53 shortly after 10 p.m. and reopened about 11:55 p.m.
The poles began falling over during the day on Saturday, Maine Turnpike Authority spokesman Dan Morin said, possibly because the rain that fell last week weakened the soil.
The poles were at either end of the Blackstrap Road overpass above the turnpike, he said. Although CMP crews didn’t need to go on the highway to replace the poles, Morin said, the turnpike was closed for the safety of both the crews and motorists.
Traffic was detoured around the closed section onto local roads and then back onto the turnpike, Morin said.
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