Downeaster construction update

[DowneasterPassenger]

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

 

[rtabern]

Looking forward to the expansion... the Downeaster is a nice daytrip and a fun ride. I've done it once to Portland (2008) and once to Old Orchard Beach (2010). Portland is a nice town with a lot to do -- but I have to say that I liked Old Orchard Beach even more. The pier and the beach... which were really nice... were like a 2 block walk from the Amtrak station there. I really enjoyed that! If I lived in Boston, I'd probably do that run once a month... or atleast when OOB is in season there. I'd really encourage people visiting Boston for a couple of days to spend part of the day doing the turn to OOB.