MaineDOT announced Friday that the new Bath Viaduct will be opened to traffic this week, nearly 25 days ahead of schedule.
Subject to weather in the next few days, MaineDOT contractors expect to complete laying the membrane, paving and striping the surface of the new viaduct in time to open the roadway to traffic at some point before Friday.
“In doing so, the team of Maine- DOT engineers and the contractors will have completed in approximately 195 days what took 729 days when the original viaduct was constructed,” reads a MaineDOT press release.
MaineDOT’s Glenn Philbrook praised its lead contractor, Woolwichbased Reed & Reed.
“This has been a well-coordinated effort from day-one, with a can-do attitude shared by MaineDOT and all the contractors,” Philbrook said in the release.
Originally built in 1958, the old viaduct took more than two years to build and carried Route 1 vehicle traffic over local streets and rail lines.
The new, $12 million viaduct was designed to have four 12-foot lanes, plus 4-foot shoulders. The road superstructure consists of four bridge spans set side-by-side. A total of 20 spans make up the new structure.
While the new viaduct will be opened to traffic this week, work will continue on surface streets and frontage roads underneath and adjacent to the viaduct, according to MaineDOT.
“We will be landscaping medians, constructing 1,600 feet of new sidewalks, placing granite curbing and paving and striping surface streets,” Philbrook said.
MaineDOT stated it is coordinating with the city of Bath and local businesses to execute a landscaping plan.
“With new traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and under-bridge lighting, the end result is going to be a great improvement for downtown Bath,” Philbrook said.
The final stage of work will continue through the end of July, but MaineDOT stated there will be minimal impact on traffic, although there will be some lane closures.
“MaineDOT continues to encourage Bath area residents and drivers to stay informed about the project by visiting mainedot.gov and by signing up for email alerts,” according to the release.
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