It’s About To Get Trickier To Travel Between Bangor And Brewer

Last fall, we told you of the upcoming plans the Maine DOT has to perform some repairs along two major connectors from Bangor to Brewer.

The time has come for one of those plans to be put into action.

Read More: How Bridge Renovations Will Affect Travel Between Bangor And Brewer

First up is the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge project that will run the length of the bridge from the end of Union Street in Bangor to the beginning of Wilson Street in Brewer.

The initial phase of the project, the replacement of the bridge's surface, is set to take place next month.

Following that, other phases will include the replacement of several bridge joints and concrete barriers, including repairing pier 1, pier 4, pier 11, and both abutments.

Officials say the repairs to the surface of the bridge will run from May 2026 to October 2026, but the overall bridge project is slated to wrap up in 2028.

To fix the bridge, the Maine DOT says traffic will be reduced to one lane going from Brewer to Bangor.

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What does this mean for motorists who use that bridge to get back and forth between towns? Get ready for a major change to that traffic pattern.

"Westbound only (Brewer to Bangor) vehicular traffic will be allowed on the bridge. Ramp B from Summer Street leading onto the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic."

Read More: Brewer, Maine End of the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge is Wider

Folks traveling in the opposite direction, from Bangor to Brewer, will have to use one of the other bridges and allow a little extra time in their daily commute.

We're told a sidewalk will remain open, so pedestrians will still be able to cross in either direction.

The price tag for that project is $2,550,000.

But that's not all that's coming down the road, so to speak.

Next year, in May of 2027, the MEDOT will initiate a $4,920,000 project to upgrade the Penobscot Bridge. The work being done on this bridge will not only impact motorists, but pedestrians, too, as the sidewalks along this bridge will be completely shut down. Those on foot will need to use the Joshua Chamberlain bridge to cross the river.

As far as how the Penobscot Bridge work will affect motorists, officials say they are hoping to maintain travel in both directions, to and from Bangor, during the two-year timetable during which the construction is scheduled to take place.

"The scope of work for this project consists of replacing the bridge's wearing surface and membrane, along with repairing bridge rail, addressing spalling, replacing finger joints, and applying a protective coating to the sidewalk and concrete barrier. Repairs will occur on both pier one in Bangor and both abutments. Throughout the project, traffic on the bridge will be reduced from four lanes to two. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained."

Statewide, for the upcoming couple of years, the Maine DOT has a budget of almost 670 million dollars earmarked to repair aging bridge and highway infrastructure in the near future.

"Highway and bridge maintenance and operations work accounts for $669 million in this Work Plan, while three-year annual averages for major maintenance and operations work include: $51 million in winter maintenance, $28.6 million in drainage maintenance, $19.1 million in custodial maintenance, $14.8 million in bridge and other infrastructure inspections, $12 million in surface and base maintenance, $12.2 million in bridge and structural maintenance and $7 million in operational and safety maintenance."

Meanwhile, work on replacing the two Hogan Road overpasses is about to begin, with the MEDOT planning to implement a new "traffic diamond". All the while, the work to replace the bridges over Broadway in Bangor continues, as well.

Read More: Bangor, Maine Set For Major I-95 Upgrades Starting In 2026

It wouldn't be spring in Maine without mud, potholes, and construction, would it?