The Maine Department of Transportation is using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters for the first time to move two new, 800,000-pound bridge decks into place over Veranda Street in Portland. The I-295 stretch at Veranda Street is closed to traffic this weekend for the construction. DOT spokesman Paul Merrill says it's a slow process to ensure the alignment of the decks is accurate.
"It's a first, it's historic, everything is going well so far, " Merrill said. "We'll, hopefully, be sliding those in this afternoon and evening."
Governor Mills, Transportation commissioner Bruce Van Note, and lawmakers will tour the site later Saturday. The highway is expected to reopen Monday morning at 11. Detour information can be found at Verandaplan.org.
