BANGOR, Maine — A section of Interstate 395 that was closed for a bridge replacement project reopened a day ahead of schedule.
The section of highway between Interstate 95 and Exit 2 reopened at 1 p.m. Monday, about 65 hours after the project began Friday evening. It was originally scheduled to open at 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.
The section of highway was closed through the weekend as crews worked to replace an overpass carrying I-395 over Webster Avenue. The project cost $2.6 million, according to MDOT.
MDOT spokesman Ted Talbot said in an email Monday that the old bridge had been completely demolished by Sunday morning, and the new span was successfully paved and installed Sunday night into Monday morning. It opened about 18 hours ahead of schedule.
Talbot said there was a bonus of $7,500 per hour with a maximum of $100,000 for finishing the project early for contractor S.E. McMillan Co. of Bangor.
“This weekend’s weather wasn’t perfect, but light rain here and there did not slow the process down,” said Wayne Frankhauser Jr., MDOT’s manager of the Urban and Federal Bridge Program, in a press release. “We had a very coordinated and focused team effort in completing this project with time to spare, which certainly minimized the impact on drivers who rely on this important stretch of highway.”
