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05/28/2026 · Lewiston
The Fed Just Signaled a Recession Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud
Jerome Powell dropped the inflation fight harder than a portfolio manager in August 2022, and Wall Street is pretending this is good news while doing the math on what it actually means for your job.
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Announcements
View allOvernight Route 1 Northbound Ramp Closure in Brunswick
Overnight Route 1 Northbound Ramp Closure in Brunswick 10/09/2025 BRUNSWICK – The Maine Department of Transportation will be closing the Route 1 northbound on ramp from Route 196 (Topsham Connector) in Brunswick overnight on October 9, 2025, from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM for paving. Closures will be clearly marked with signs and cones. The closure will last for one night. Drivers traveling from Route 196 and Route 201 to Route 1 North should stay on Main Street, cross the Frank J. Wood Bridge, and use Mason Street to access the Route 1 North on ramp. These closures are part of an ongoing highway rehabilitation project. The project covers an area that begins 0.17 miles east of Cushing Street and extends east for 3.02 miles, as well as 0.70 miles west of Old Bath Road and extending west for 3.39 miles. All local approaches and ramps are included in this work, which consists of pavement milling, hot mix asphalt overlay, and safety improvements. The contractor on this project is Coastal Road Repair of Westbrook, Maine. The contract amount is $15,544,396.25.
MaineDOT, Women in Transportation, and Accessibility Partners Hold ADA Training in Augusta
MaineDOT, Women in Transportation, and Accessibility Partners Hold ADA Training in Augusta AUGUSTA – October 7, 2026 — On October 6, the Maine Department of Transportation partnered with Women in Transportation (WTS), the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL), Iris Network, and Alpha One (Maine’s Center for Independent Living), to host a hands-on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and accessibility training event in Augusta. The event brought together transportation planners, engineers, and other professionals from MaineDOT and WTS for experiential learning activities designed to deepen participants’ understanding of how people with disabilities and people using mobility devices experience streets, sidewalks, crossings, and other elements of the transportation system. Participants worked in small groups at two locations: downtown Augusta and the area surrounding the State House along Capitol and State streets. At each location, groups rotated through outdoor sessions led by accessibility experts and people with firsthand knowledge of the barriers that can arise in the built environment. “Safe, accessible transportation depends on understanding the experience of every person who uses it,” said Dakota Hewlett, Active Transportation Planner with MaineDOT. “This partnership gave those who participated an opportunity to see our transportation network from different perspectives and to carry those lessons into planning, design, construction, and maintenance decisions across Maine.” One set of sessions focused on the experiences of people with low vision or blindness. Mobility Specialists from the Maine Department of Labor’s Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired as well as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist from the Iris Network guided participants through pedestrian environments using white canes and goggles that simulated different types of vision impairments. The activities highlighted challenges that people may encounter when navigating sidewalks, curb ramps, crossings, signals, surface conditions, and other pedestrian features. “As transportation professionals, it’s our responsibility to understand that accessibility is about much more than meeting design standards it’s about creating a transportation system that people of all abilities can safely and independently navigate,” said Emily Becker, Vice President, WTS Maine. “This hands on experience gave participants an opportunity to better understand the real world barriers that people with disabilities encounter every day. WTS Maine is proud to partner with MaineDOT to create opportunities like this that build empathy, strengthen our profession, and inspire us to think differently about how we plan, design, and deliver transportation projects across Maine.” Other sessions were hosted by representatives from Alpha One and the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Participants used wheelchairs, knee scooters, rollator walkers, crutches, and umbrella strollers to experience how physical features of the transportation system can affect mobility, safety, and independence. The use of a range of devices also underscored that accessible transportation benefits a broad range of users, including people with disabilities, older adults, people recovering from injuries, caregivers, and families traveling with young children. “This training reflected the value of bringing transportation professionals together with disability advocates, mobility specialists, and people with lived experience,” said Theresa Savoy, MaineDOT ADA Transportation Coordinator. “By learning directly from accessibility experts and experiencing real-world conditions, participants can better recognize barriers and help create transportation systems that work for everyone.” The event reinforced MaineDOT’s commitment to integrating accessibility throughout its work and to building strong partnerships with organizations that serve and represent people with disabilities. Lessons from the training will help inform ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian infrastructure and ensure that Maine’s transportation system is safe, connected, and accessible for all users.
Maxwell Bridge Project Detour in Litchfield
Maxwell Bridge Project Detour in Litchfield | Maine Department of Transportation Home Skip to top navigation Skip to side navigation Skip to content Skip to footer Maxwell Bridge Project Detour in Litchfield 10/08/2025 LITCHFIELD – The Maine Department of Transportation will be performing work on the Maxwell Bridge over Maggoty Meadow Brook for up to thirty days to replace the precast concrete box culvert starting on October 8. The work is expected to be completed by November 4. Richmond Road (Route 197) will be open to local traffic. Upper Pond Road will be closed to through traffic. Message boards will be used to alert drivers of the detour and closure. Drivers should follow posted detour signs. The contractor on this project is Shaw Brothers Construction, Inc. of Gorham, Maine. The contract amount is $826,611.
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