News

Highway Improvement Work Begins In Gray

Drivers using Routes 26, 100 or US 202 through Gray should allow some extra travel time and expect congestion and delays for the next month or so, according to the Maine Department of Transportation.

"We're starting construction on a highway improvement project in downtown Gray this week (July 10-14)," explains Joe Darling, MaineDOT's construction manager for the project. "We're going to be working on Route 26 from its intersection with Routes 100 and 202 west for almost a mile to the overpass over the Maine Turnpike. With the current volume of traffic through Gray village, there is no way we can do this project without disrupting traffic. The trick will be to keep those disruptions to a minimum, which we are committed to doing."

Above, A car turns north onto Rt. 26 while southbound morning commuter traffic waits at the light at Gray Corner. The morning commute is heavy, and delays regularly occur without the added obstacle of construction. Monument file photo

Darling says the project includes milling off the existing pavement, putting down a base for the new pavement, drainage and safety improvements, and paving. He notes that the grinding and paving operations will be done at night to minimize traffic disruptions.

The contract for the project, awarded to Pike Industries of Lewiston on a bid of nearly $508,000, calls for completion of the project by mid-August.