Test-pit work on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine, is scheduled to begin Thursday, Oct. 29, with one alternating traffic lane from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, the city's project manager said Oct. 27.
The contractor is returning to the site Oct. 27 and 28 to prepare, Senior Water Resources Engineer Justin Pellerin said in an email to Six State Signal. The city previously anticipated a start on or around Oct. 26.
During the initial two-week phase, two-way traffic will be restored at night and on weekends. The work zone will move as crews progress, with parking restricted where needed, Pellerin said.
The work is part of the Commercial Street and Portland Fish Pier storm-drain outfall project. Test pits help locate underground utilities and check conditions before drain installation. An outfall is where a drainage system releases collected water.
The next phase, with alternating one-way traffic controlled by temporary signals around the clock, remains planned for mid-November. Pellerin said heavy on-street parking restrictions will apply between Maple and Center streets during that phase, with completion anticipated in winter 2027.
Those durations are estimates and can change with weather and site conditions. The city plans another announcement closer to the start of the round-the-clock traffic pattern to confirm its date, Pellerin said.
Drivers should allow extra time and check the city's project updates before heading through the waterfront.