By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Work on the Caribou Connector project is in full swing and officials have announced that blasting activities between Route 1 and Route 89 started on Monday, June 13. All property owners with abutting land to the construction site were notified ahead of time. The blasting will not impact traffic.
On Route 89 Sunrise Materials will continue to place forms and reinforcement for the Route 89 bridge abutment with a north side abutment wing wall placement tentatively scheduled for next week. Two-lane traffic should be maintained at the construction areas and concrete barriers at the shoulders of the road have been placed to keep traffic safe.
Motorists are reminded that the speed limit through the construction zone will remain at 35 mph until construction of the Route 89 bridge is complete. Major earth-moving activities will continue. Officials with the project have also stated that earth-moving activities should not affect traffic on Route 89 for the time being.
Workers for Sunrise Materials will continue to place forms and reinforcing materials for the Route 1 Van Buren Road bridge abutment footing number two. A concrete placement may be scheduled for this footing as early as next week. Sargent Corporation plans to maintain two-lane traffic through the construction zone with periods of occasional one-lane traffic for certain work.
Plans to move the existing Rowland property house to Presque Isle have been adjusted to the end of this week or next pending permitting. Flaggers will be at the site to direct traffic, which may be delayed for brief intervals. Construction signs have been placed and concrete barriers will be used to keep traffic safe from the construction areas.
Speed has been reduced to 40 mph through this zone and will remain so throughout the construction of the Route 1 bridge. Major earth-moving work will continue throughout this month but is not expected to affect Route 1 traffic for the time being, with the exception of trucks occasionally turning on-site to deliver materials.
