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Stretch of Turnpike Needs Paving, but the Weather's not Behaving

July 08, 2009 - PORTLAND -- Rain – and lots of it – has slowed progress on a major paving project on the Maine Turnpike, but the work is still expected to be completed on schedule.

The $5.6 million project involves milling the old pavement, putting down new asphalt and upgrading drainage between mile marker 35 in Saco and mile marker 45 in Scarborough. The deadline in the contract is Aug. 28.

"We still think that's doable," said Dan Paradee, a spokesman for the Maine Turnpike Authority. "We were just hopeful it would be done earlier."

The contractor, Pike Industries of Westbrook, started work April 29. The milling work was completed June 9, and the resurfacing of the northbound lanes was finished June 25. The paving of the southbound lanes began Monday night, but rain was in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

It's not clear when the weather will give the project's workers a dry spell. A trough of low pressure that was responsible for cold, wet weather in much of June is still in place.

"Nothing's moving. We just need something to shift a little farther," said Butch Roberts, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

With 8.56 inches of rain, June was the fifth-rainiest on record for Portland. There were 16 days of measurable rain that month and 18 such days in May, Roberts said.

Some of the road work, such as repairs needed under bridges, continued despite the rain, but paving cannot be done in wet weather.

Pike also must work around time limitations set by the turnpike authority. Paving work typically takes up two lanes, Paradee said, so it is not allowed during busy traffic times.

Currently, paving is not allowed from Friday afternoon to Sunday night. On other days, it is limited to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Three lanes remain open, but each is a foot or two narrower than normal to make room for the work. The milling process, which involves grinding off about 1 inches of pavement and sealing cracks before new pavement is put on, leaves the road with a rough surface.

The speed limit has been lowered to 50 mph in the work areas, regardless of whether paving is taking place at the time. The usual 65 mph limit has been reinstated in the northbound section.

The turnpike project covers nearly 10 miles of highway rather than the more typical five to eight miles, and six lanes rather than four, said Bruce Pelletier, a turnpike authority spokesman. Authority officials sought to save money by forgoing shoulder work for now.

Toll revenue, and not federal stimulus money, is covering the project cost.

By ANN S. KIM, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, July 8, 2009


Lakes:
Regions: Sebago, Sanford


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