SEARSPORT —  The Maine Department of Transportation is beginning work on a project that involves rehabilitation and reconstruction of Route 1 in downtown Searsport. The work area begins at Savage Road and extends north for nearly two miles to Station Avenue.

The project involves the addition of a center left-turn lane between Trundy Road and Station Avenue. This work will also involve eliminating gaps in sidewalks to create a continuous accessible route downtown for pedestrians. MaineDOT is working with the town to install pedestrian lighting and brick sidewalks.

The on-site construction work is beginning June 12 and will continue until work is suspended for the winter – no later than November. From June 15 until October 15 of this year, southbound traffic will be detoured onto Black, Union, and Mortland Roads.

Project work will resume in spring 2024. There will be a longer south bound traffic detour, involving Mortland, Old County, and Prospect Roads. That longer detour is expected to run from March 1, 2024 to October 15, 2024, according to MDOT, in a news release.

The anticipated construction completion date for all work in June of 2025.

The contractor on this project is Gordon Contractors of Sangerville. The contract amount is $17,758,548. This project is recipient of $9.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending.