Ocean Avenue, Mackworth and Walton Street
Beginning April 16, 2021 the City's Mackworth, Ocean, Walton CSO Separation Project has modified the closure on Ocean Avenue. Traffic on Ocean Avenue will be one-way only traveling from Read Street to Forest Avenue. Also, traffic on Walton Street will be one-way only traveling from Canco Road to Ocean Avenue.
Preble Street at Baxter Boulevard Traffic Impacts - Begins April 13
The ongoing work on Preble Street will move into the intersection of Baxter Boulevard beginning April 13. Access to northbound Baxter Boulevard will be restricted. A detour will be established sending traffic to Forest Avenue. Baxter Boulevard southbound will be detoured at Dartmouth Street sending traffic up to Forest Avenue.Barricades and detour signs will be set up directing traffic.These closures are part of the City's Back Cove South Storage Facility Project, and are necessary in order to connect the existing utilities within the intersection of Marginal Way and Franklin Street to the new storage tanks under the Preble Street playing fields. The project is one of the City's latest sewer separation projects to prevent combined sewer overflows into Back Cove. The work to reduce overflows is part of the City's agreement with the U.S. EPA to reduce and eliminate the flow of combined waste being discharged. A combined sewer system transports wastewater from home, industries, and businesses, as well as storm water collected from streets, parking lots, roofs, and yards to the East End Wastewater Treatment Plant. A combined sewer overflow occurs when the combined sewer capacity is overwhelmed during heavy rain events and a mix of sewer and storm water is discharged into Back Cove. The project schedule and related graphics can be found on the Public Works website.
Next Phase of I-295 Exit 7 Ramp Closures Began April 12
Construction work is also part of Back Cove sewer separation projectThe next phase of the I-295 Exit 7 (Franklin St) ramp closures will begin Monday, April 12. Currently, the southbound off ramp is closed. Starting April 12, the northbound off ramp will be closed, and then on April 19, all on and off ramps will be closed for approximately three weeks. The variable message boards around the project area, as well as on I-295, will alert motorists to the latest ramp closure information. Motorists should make plans to seek alternate routes during this time. These closures are part of the City's Back Cove South Storage Facility Project, and are necessary in order to connect the existing utilities within the intersection of Marginal Way and Franklin Street to the new storage tanks under the Preble Street playing fields. The Department of Public Works has been coordinating with the prime contractor, Sargent Corporation, and the Maine Department of Transportation to put forth a sequencing and staging plan as part of a traffic control plan to minimize the impacts to the traveling public. MaineDOT has requested that all work be completed by Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. The project schedule and related graphics can be found on the Public Works website.
Tukey's Bridge Work
The Maine Department of Transportation will be starting a project on Monday, March 29, 2021, that will have traffic impacts on Tukey's Bridge. They are anticipating completion by mid-June 2021. Access will be maintained to both Washington Avenue and Tukey Street however; it will be reduced to one (1) 14' lane on the bridge while work is taking place. Additional closures may occur during the milling and paving days; more information will be shared once MaineDOT shares when those days will be. Deering's Corner RoundaboutThe Deering's Corner Roundabout project at the intersection of Deering Avenue, Brighton Avenue, and Falmouth Street has resumed. Starting on Wednesday, April 7, the contractor will transition from the winter operations scheme, removing the jersey barriers. Falmouth Street will be closed at the intersection with Deering and Brighton avenues. The northern leg of Deering Avenue will remain closed at the intersection. These streets will remain open to local traffic only. All through traffic through the area should seek alternate routes. This traffic pattern is expected to be in place for 2-3 months, when the intersection can safely operate as a roundabout. For more information on this project, go to the project webpage.