PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — More than 40 Aroostook County communities are included in the Maine Department of Transportation’s newly released work plan for the next three years, with several projects based in the St. John Valley and the two most expensive in the central Aroostook towns of Presque Isle and Caribou.
The biggest ticket item outlined in the plan is $84.2 million for construction starting this year of 5.83 miles of the new bypass in Presque Isle, beginning at the Westfield town line on Route 1 and extending north to Conant Road.
Former Maine DOT spokesperson Paul Merrill said last year that it was not only the largest project planned for Aroostook County, but among the largest being developed in the state.
The first phase of this project began in 2016 and included a 7.5-mile bypass around downtown Presque Isle. A third phase connecting Fort Road north with Route 1 will be evaluated after construction of the new bypass, as funding has only been approved for the first two phases.
Damian Veilleux, who currently serves as the Maine DOT spokesperson, said the project is being led by the department’s highway program and is scheduled to be advertised this September.
Maine DOT’s Aroostook work also includes $66.6 million for Eastern Maine Railway improvements in 2027, which Veilleux said are part of a broader initiative to strengthen rail freight infrastructure in the region.
In Caribou, a $25.8 million project is planned next year to replace the deck of the Fort Street bridge over the Aroostook River. This will be the first major upgrade to the bridge since it was built in the early 1950s. And while Merrill said last year that the agency has not identified any safety concerns with the bridge, the surface has gone far beyond its expected 50-year lifespan.
Veilleux said on Thursday that the preliminary design for the Caribou projects is nearly complete and that Maine DOT is preparing to hold a virtual public meeting soon to share the proposed work and to gather feedback.
Several projects are expected to take place in the St. John Valley area, including two major projects next year in Fort Kent. The largest is an $18.7 million project that will start about a half-mile west of Church Avenue in Frenchville and extend northwest by 4.66 miles on Route 1. The project is funded via a federal grant, and includes highway construction and rehabilitation.
Another large project planned for 2026 in Fort Kent is $14.6 million worth of highway reconstruction and rehabilitation work funded via congressional earmarks. This project will take place on Route 161 beginning 0.2 miles northwest of the New Canada town line and extend northwest by four miles.
The three-year plan also includes work in Wallagrass, Eagle Lake, Cross Lake, Frenchville,, Van Buren and Madawaska, The department’s full 2025 plan is available to view on the Maine DOT website.
