Bridges continue to command the attention of state transportation workers who just finished up a comprehensive inspection of Maine’s six steel deck truss bridges in the aftermath of the Minneapolis bridge collapse.

While all those spans in the state cleared the inspections, scheduled work continues on other Maine bridges, including the Russ Bridge, adjacent to the fish hatchery on the Gore Road in Palermo. Mike Eldridge, regional bridge manager for Maine Department of Transportation’s Region Two Office, said the top layer of the bridge will be replaced in a project that will begin Monday.

“The existing wearing surface has deteriorated to the point it no longer protects the underlying bridge deck from water and weather,” he said in a prepared statement Wednesday. “It needs to be replaced to protect our investment in the bridge deck and to provide a smoother ride for drivers crossing the bridge.”

Eldridge said crews will also repair the stone riprap used to protect the bridge substructure from scouring caused by moving water and will also do some touch-up painting on the structural steel on the bridge.

“We need to replace the wearing surface and it just makes good sense to take care of these other items while we’re there,” he explained. “Because of the equipment, materials and procedure used to replace the wearing surface, we’ll need to restrict the bridge to one lane for the duration of the project. Our traffic engineers have looked at the work area and determined that adequate traffic control can be maintained using ‘Stop’ and ‘Proceed When Clear’ signs on the roadway approaches to the bridge.”

Eldridge said drivers should slow down as they approach the bridge and be prepared to stop should another vehicle already be crossing the span. The state anticipates it will take about six weeks to complete the work. But Eldridge cautioned that the work is weather dependent and that adjustments to the schedule may be needed depending on the amount of inclement weather later this month and in September.

One of the really interesting things about the cyberspace age is the way that all kinds of information that’s out there can be classified, categorized, rated and calibrated.

With gas prices rising — and falling — weekly, it can be helpful to know where the highest and lowest prices are in your community.

That where Mainegasprices.com comes in. They maintain a fairly up-to-date report on price-per-gallon variances and can be accessed online by clicking here for gas prices

The site also offers these tips for saving some pennies at the pump:

1. Avoid High Speeds. As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph vs 75 mph will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.

2. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard. By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.

3. Keep Tires Properly Inflated. Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.

4. Use A/C Sparingly. When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.

5. Keep Windows Closed. Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.

6. Service Vehicle Regularly. Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.

7. Use Cruise Control. Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.

8. Avoid Heavy Loads. Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.

9. Avoid Long Idles. If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.

10. Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle. When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle's rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.

Tips, problem traffic areas and questions can be e-mailed to A. J. Higgins at
ajhiggins@centralmaine.com

Thought most of the Western Avenue work for the Augusta Crossing shopping center was wrapped up?

Guess again.

The Maine Department of Transportation says drivers can expect to encounter daytime lane restrictions on Western Avenue in Augusta throughout the weekend.

The work is being done by Packard Development as part of its construction of the new shopping center just east of Interstate 95. Their contractor, Maietta Corp., is overseeing the project.

Steve Hunnewell of MaineDOT’s Traffic Engineering Section said the concrete median strip that runs down the center of Western Avenue is scheduled for removal.

“We’ll be limiting traffic to one lane eastbound and one lane westbound between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday,” Hunnewell said. “We need to block off the lane nearest the center line in each direction to provide room for workers and equipment involved in the median removal project.”

Hunnewell urged drivers traveling Western Avenue this Saturday and Sunday to be alert for signs, workers and equipment.

“The best and easiest way to get through the work zone safely is to slow down as you approach the work area, follow the directions of signs and flaggers, and be alert for people and equipment in the area,” Hunnewell said.

Vanity plate of the week
This one is from a canine fancier who was driving a black Vue on State Street: LVMIDOG

Tips, problem traffic areas and questions can be e-mailed to A. J. Higgins at
ajhiggins@centralmaine.com

Beware, beware, beware of the naked driver.

You never know where or when a motorist in the buff is going to surface on Maine’s highways.

The most recent incident took place on July 15 in Fryeburg and began with a traffic stop for speeding that ended in a 7-mile chase.

Was alcohol a factor? News flash: That’s affirmative.

According to the Associated Press, the episode unfolded when a police officer stopped a Volvo for speeding and discovered that the driver was wearing no clothes.

Because the motorist said she needed to use the bathroom, the officer allowed her to follow his cruiser to a campground. Instead, her passenger took the wheel and led police on a chase that ended on Main Street in Fryeburg, police said.

Douglas H. Litchfield, 59, and Patricia Buck, 61, both of Harrison, were charged with drunken driving and driving to endanger, police said.

The pair said they had been in the woods and Buck's clothes had washed away in a stream, according to Fryeburg police administrator Ann Perante.

The vehicle was registered in Virginia. Although Litchfield had a suspended Maine license, he possessed a valid Virginia license, police said.

From cyberspace

In response to Monday’s blog entry concerning motorists who refuse to hang up their cell phones while behind the wheel, K.C. from Boston writes:

“I agree totally with your viewpoint on cell phones. I travel between Augusta and Boston several times a month and I have seen some real winners. Lately I have noticed that police (both local & state) have computers in their cars now. I was beside one of these officers the other day. He was typing madly on the computer while trying to drive. How safe it this? And are police any less distracted than the person on the cell? Keep your eyes peeled for these new gadgets. I am sure it is only a matter of time before we can "link up" online while driving.”

Tips, problem traffic areas and questions can be e-mailed to A. J. Higgins at
ajhiggins@centralmaine.com