They warned us it was coming, and the day has finally arrived.

A major $2.8 million infrastructure project just kicked off in Bangor, and it's affecting one of the more popular routes folks travel within the city.

Cumberland, Harlow and parts of Market Street and Center Street will be affected.

Work officially began on Monday, September 21st, and is scheduled to run through the middle of October for some spots, into December for others, and with the majority of the roadwork ending next summer, in 2027.

What exactly is going to be done?

City officials say the scope of the project includes not only completely reworking Cumberland Street's layout (they're taking away that little short cut that goes from Cumberland to Market, down by the Attic thrift shop) and adding sidewalks, but also replacing old sewer pipe, laying new storm drains and installing new water pipes, to replace the ones built in the late 1890s.

In order to cut down on some of the time it will take for this major overhaul to be completed, the plan is to lay the sewer and storm drains in the same trench, which will have to be finished first, and hopefully by the end of the year, so the other roadwork can be completed.

How will the effect motorists in the area?

While all of this is taking place, some of the roads in the area will be completely shut down, while others will be partially blocked off.

"Motorists on Harlow traveling toward Downtown will be rerouted onto Kenduskeag Avenue and Curve Street, while drivers leaving Downtown will be redirected onto Spring Street. The subsequent closing of Cumberland will last into early December...There will be times when vehicles on Center Street will need to be redirected when the work extends into the intersection of Center and Cumberland."

Cumberland Street Project Detours, City of Bangor

For those unfamiliar with that area, it includes the Penquis and Federal buildings, along with some smaller offices and business within that radius. There might be other closures to work around as the large pipes are delivered into the area, like Center Street and such.

Officials say that businesses in those areas will remain open, and that local traffic going to those businesses or surrounding homes, will be allowed through, for the most part. When they do need to close those off to everyone, they will be giving those folks a heads up in advance.

Who's in charge of this undertaking?

The two major entities working on this major project will the the City of Bangor's Engineering Department, along with the Bangor Water District. The EPA will also be overseeing the sewer overflow comes together.

If you need more information on the project, or have questions, you can reach out to them direct by calling the City of Bangor Engineering Department at 992-4250, the Bangor Water District at Bangor Water District at 947-4516, ext. 208 or the federal EPA at (877) 251-4575.

You can also click here for the City of Bangor's official statement about the project.