Closing both southbound lanes of Interstate 295 for construction work, between Gardiner and Topsham, this summer at first seemed like a shocking idea even to state transportation officials.

Now, it's all but a sure thing.

The decision to close that portion of the interstate won't be made until bids for the project come in late this month, but a MaineDOT official put the odds of the project taking place as proposed at 90 percent.

The project would replace the concrete roadway with three layers of fresh pavement expected to last about 20 years.

Officials say that stretch of roadway is on the verge, in places, of crumbling into dust.

But closing both southbound lanes to make repairs, and during tourist season?

Joyce Taylor, assistant director of the Bureau of Project Development for the state DOT, said closing the lanes would allow the work to be done more quickly, cheaply and safely than if a lane were left open.

"Every day on a work site is another day when someone is at risk of an incident," Taylor said in a recent meeting with the editorial board of the Kennebec Journal. "Full closure means the contractors can work day and night, Sundays, everything... and it can get done with a full closure of two-and-a-half-months instead of three construction seasons."

Local residents expect to see major increases in traffic detouring around the construction.

The two-lane U.S. Route 201 -- through municipalities including Gardiner, Richmond and Bowdoinham -- is expected to be a major detour during the project.

Numerous roadside residents fear their safety will be at risk.

"I have serious concerns you're putting economics ahead of safety," said Thomas Garrepy, a Bowdoin resident, firefighter and sergeant with the Brunswick police, whose job includes reconstructing traffic accidents.

"Safety is still our No. 1 concern," said Seth Goodall, a selectman in Richmond. "I want to make sure residents on that road are safe."

An estimated 13,500 vehicles a day travel I-295 southbound during the peak of summer, according to Brad Foley, director of the DOT's Safety Office.

The DOT's goal is to push 50 percent of that traffic to the Maine Turnpike.

But the turnpike isn't a good option for most travelers going places alongside Interstate 295 between Gardiner and Portland. From Gardiner, the turnpike takes a more inland route than Interstate 295, before the two rejoin in the Portland area.

Motorists' most likely, and direct, way between Gardiner and Topsham will be U.S. Route 201. Many residences have driveways entering onto the road. Also along the way: the popular Peacock Beach State Park in Richmond, and a recreational center in Topsham.

Taylor said DOT officials left their informational meeting in Richmond with a new way of thinking about U.S. Route 201.

"We started with the thinking Route 201 needs to be free-flowing," Taylor said.

"We walked away from the meeting in Richmond feeling like we needed to reverse our thinking. We want traffic to be slow and steady. We need Route 201 to look and feel like a work zone."

If the road feels like a work zone, Taylor said, motorists will be more likely to travel more slowly and safely. She said work zone signs and speed limits will be put in, fines for speeding in the area will be doubled, intersections will get streetlights, and flashing lights will be installed at major intersections -- all in an effort to slow traffic.

Goodall said he thought the changes would help slow traffic but he remains concerned about increased traffic on local, lesser roads.

The DOT will conduct an aggressive informational campaign to encourage motorists to use caution in the area or, better yet, take the turnpike when possible, said Meg Lane of the Office of Communications.

"Part of our message to motorists will be 'Be respectful, this is someone's front yard,'" Taylor said.

And Lane said the DOT will remain flexible and will watch the project and traffic flow around it closely throughout the project, and make changes if necessary.

When traffic if flowing smoothly, the U.S. Route 201 detour might add as little as 10 minutes to the time it takes to drive through the area, officials say.

However they acknowledge that a traffic accident or vehicles breaking down or running out of gas could back up southbound traffic extensively on U.S. Route 201. To help protect against that, they plan to have a roving patrol vehicle on the road, able to provide motorists assistance as needed.

Taylor said project-construction bids will be opened April 23 and the final decision will be made in the days after bids are opened. The project is expected to cost about $32 million.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com