South Street (Route 114) paving between Weeks Road and Main Street continues this week after a short break leading up to Labor Day weekend. The work will be done overnight. While there is an additional cost for doing work at night, according to Ted Talbot of the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), limitations were listed in the contract when the project was bid so these were anticipated costs and included within the original contract price. Those restrictions do not allow lane closures between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Main Street to Robie Street based on traffic volumes.

Commuters do have the option to utilize the bypass to avoid that section of town, and the MDOT encourages people to take alternate routes to prevent delays, however, Talbot said most of the traffic on South Street is either coming from Fort Hill Road, Main Street East or is heading to Main Street from the South to conduct business in town. This traffic would not be using the bypass anyway.

Some residents have questioned the quality of the overlay from the bypass on South Street to Weeks Road which was completed mid-August. Talbot confirmed that the first pavement lift is just a shim course to address any deficiencies in the existing roadway. This will be followed by a final lift of surface pavement. The section that has not yet been paved will also receive a shim course prior to the final lift.