Drivers heading south along Route 1 in Searsport will have to make a five mile detour around downtown starting Tuesday, as a big multi-year road project gets back underway.
The $17.8 million project is rebuilding and improving a two-mile stretch through downtown Searsport, from Savage Road to Station Avenue. After launching last June, it was on pause in recent months.
This latest detour is expected to last through Oct. 15, with the expected completion date for the whole project in June 2025, according to state transportation officials.
Among the changes that are coming to the busy coastal corridor are a center lane for turning left, between Trundy Road and Station Avenue. It will also improve the ability for pedestrians to safely get through downtown by installing lights, extending sidewalks and building new ones out of brick.
While local officials say the project will eventually help bring more development to the town, some businesses reported major disruptions from the construction and detours last year, including a drop in customers and the need to lay off staff, according to the Republican Journal.
The project is being done by Gordon Contractors of Sangerville. It’s been supported by $9.2 million in federal funds.
The price tag on the project shot up from an original estimate of $12.8 million, resulting from the growing costs of labor, transportation and construction materials during the pandemic.
