BATH

The ongoing reconstruction of the ramp from High St. to Route 1 southbound in Bath should be completed by the middle of November, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.

“We are hoping to have the new ramp cut in and base paved, to have it open by Nov.15,” said Maine DOT Engineer Glenn Philbrook.

The major change will be transforming the end of the ramp into a merge with Route 1.

“The existing ramp had a stop at the end of it, and the ramp is being converted so that stop turns into a merge,” said Philbrook. “In order to do that, there needs to be a longer merging length, so we’re shifting the ramp closer to Leeman Highway to make sure that it’s a longer merge.”

The purpose of the change is primarily pedestrian and vehicular safety, noted Philbrook, not traffic flow. In addition to the merge, the project also involves stormwater work, installation of lights along the ramp and a new sidewalk to join the existing sidewalk along Route 1.

“There’s going to be a new sidewalk going down the ramp toward Burger King, and it’s also going to connect with the sidewalk that’s going up Leeman,” said Philbrook.

A crosswalk will be placed at the bottom of the ramp.

While the ramp is slated to be open for use by Nov. 15, work will resume next year.

“The project is not going to be completed until the following year,” said Philbrook, noting that surface paving and sidewalk work will continue at some point next year.

Construction began at the beginning of September.

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