Bath – MaineDOT and its contractors have opened the new Bath Viaduct to traffic approximately 25 days ahead of schedule. Paving and striping were completed in the last few days, and workers removed the barriers and changed signs to allow Route 1 traffic to flow over the new viaduct this morning. Plans had called for the new viaduct to open just in time for Memorial Day, but MaineDOT engineers and their contractors completed the demolition of the original and construction of the new viaduct in just 195 days. The original viaduct construction in 1959 required 729 days to complete.

MaineDOT Resident Glenn Philbrook expressed appreciation on behalf of MaineDOT for what he described as the outstanding work of lead contractor Reed & Reed of Woolwich. Philbrook also thanked Bath residents and the businesses of Downtown Bath for their patience. “While we were able to move quickly through the demolition, we know that was not easy for people who live nearby. There’s just no way to do that kind of work quietly.” Philbrook said that work on the new viaduct started even as the final demolition was completed. “The team moved forward quickly and because of excellent planning and coordination, we were able to shave almost a month off this phase of work.”

MaineDOT summarizes the work that has been completed thus far as:

• Remove and replace the viaduct roadway, including 1,900 linear feet of roadway made of 20 spans, with 19 piers.
• Completed repairs to the High Street Bridge.
• Rebuilt 240 linear feet of rail line underneath the viaduct.
• Upgraded and constructed more than 1,200 linear feet of sidewalks.
• Completed Storm Water Separation work, utilizing more than 1,800 feet of pipe.

While the new viaduct is now open to traffic, work will continue on surface streets and frontage roads underneath and adjacent to the viaduct. The final stage of work will continue through the end of July. MaineDOT advises that traffic impacts should be minimal, with some lane closures as the work progresses.

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.