BATH

Bath business leaders were given a quick update on the Route 1 viaduct project on Thursday at the Main Street Bath Business Barometer meeting.

Glenn Philbrook of the Maine Department of Transportation provided what has become regular updates to residents and business owners in the area to be affected with the replacement of the 1958 structure that carries Route 1 vehicle traffic over local streets and rail lines.

With some 18,000 vehicles crossing the viaduct daily, MDOT has been working with locals to reassure them they are attempting to make the construction process as painless as possible.

Philbrook told the crowd at J.R. Maxwell’s that MDOT has no plans for telling motorists to seek alternate routes, drawing them away from the many businesses in the historic downtown.

If anything, Philbrook said if they are going to put up any message boards, they will say that Bath is open for business.

Philbrook encouraged businesses, residents and commuters to sign up with the department for traffic alerts and email updates at mainedot.gov.

Currently, Crooker Construction is doing some subcontract work to prepare for the bulk of the project, which will start in earnest after Columbus Day in October. Work is scheduled to be completed prior to Memorial Day 2017.

Prior to Columbus Day, there will be minor disruptions, with flaggers and road closures on adjacent roads between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pedestrians should also expect crossing changes to keep them away from immediate construction zones.

Phase II will take place between Oct. 11, 2016, and May 25, 2017, when the viaduct will be closed and traffic rerouted along frontage roads. For the many Bath Iron Works workers, the commute will become a little more tricky.

“The biggest thing that will impact that traffic is they will not be able to take left-hand turns onto Washington Street, so southbound, they won’t be able to turn into BIW. They’re going to have to get off at Front Street, come down Centre Street and then go straight across Washington Street,” Philbrook said.

Likewise, Philbrook said northbound traffic won’t be able to simply turn off onto Washington Street but will have to be diverted onto High Street, right onto Centre Street and then right onto Washington Street.

Two shifts will begin work on the project with day and night construction, causing significant truck traffic and delays. Detour routes will vary, with most occurring between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. with signs to aid drivers and pedestrians to reach their destinations.

Phase III is scheduled for post-Memorial Day through June 2017. At this point, the project will be down to finish work, including curbs, landscaping and improved pedestrian crossings. Drivers should still expect some lane closures.

Through the meeting, merchants were encouraged to remain positive for their patrons regarding the construction — preferring to highlight the benefits of the new construction for a relatively short period of inconvenience.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com

Early work in Bath

• CURRENTLY, Crooker Construction is doing some subcontract work to prepare for the bulk of the Bath viaduct project, which will start in earnest after Columbus Day in October. Work is scheduled to be completed prior to Memorial Day 2017.

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