DowneasterPassenger
Lead Service Attendant
Some news about Downeaster construction circulating through various Portland companies today:
Today, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) and Pan
Am plan to deliver rail materials for the DownEaster Expansion in the
City of Portland at two of the five scheduled railroad crossings,
Riverside Crossing (1) and Allen Avenue Crossing (2). The train is
expected to arrive at the Riverside Crossing at approximately 2:00 PM
and then will continue south to the Allen Avenue Crossing. This
activity will seriously impact traffic at each of these railroad
crossings and could cause delays of up to thirty minutes for
commuters.
Tomorrow, NNEPRA and Pan Am will continue their delivery of rail
materials beginning at 9:00 AM starting with the Read and Walton
Crossing (3), Woodfords Corner Crossing (4) and ending at the Congress
Street Crossing (5) by approximately 4:00 PM. Again, motorists should
expect significant traffic and delays at these intersections.
A map of the impacted rail crossings is attached. The numbers indicate
the crossings and order in which the material will be delivered:
1. Riverside Crossing (near Outer Washington Avenue)
2. Allen Avenue Crossing (near Morrill’s Corner)
3. Read and Walton Street Crossing
4. Forest Avenue at Woodfords Corner Crossing (impacting Forest,
Saunders, Woodfords, Revere, Lincoln, Coyle, Ashmont and Prospect)
5. Congress Street Crossing (near St. John’s Street)
The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) is managing
a $38 million construction project which will result in the expansion
of Downeaster service to Freeport and Brunswick. The project includes
the rehabilitation of approximately thirty miles of track,
installation of signals and upgrades to thirty-six grade crossings.
Construction is underway, and is expected to be complete by fall 2012.
Nicole Clegg
Director of Communications
City of Portland
389 Congress Street, Room 208
Portland, ME 04101
office: 207-756-8173
cell: 207-272-4477