Here’s What They’re Doing On Route 1A in Ellsworth

The Maine Department of Transportation and it's contractor have begun work on one of the busiest roads in the area.

The signs went up last week and work began this past Sunday night.  Workers will grind up the pavement, which the MDOT call a "mill and fill" in both lanes of Route 1A, or what those living in Ellsworth call "the Bangor Road", and then replace it with a suitable depth of new hot mix asphalt, extending the life of a road.  The project spans from the North Union River Bridge to approxiatemently 7 miles north ending by McGowan's Hill. The bridge is not part of the project.

The project will also include some spot safety improvements, according to a spokesperson from the MDOT.  The project will be completed by the end of July.

The majority of the work is happening during the night, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday.  Be prepared for one-lane traffic at times.

Drivers who are normally traveling at high speeds should be aware of uneven lanes and grooved pavement.  The MDOT website lists All States Asphalt, Inc. of Sunderland, Massachusetts, as the contractor.

a mill and fill – a pavement management treatment that removes a portion of the roadway surface, replacing it with a suitable depth of new hot mix asphalt, extending the life of a road.  The project will also include some spot safety improvements.  It’s expected to be completed by the end of the July.