Maine winters are the most beautiful in New England, but they take a serious toll on our infrastructure. We’re all too familiar with the large potholes that can pop a tire, or the work commute that gets suddenly interrupted because a culvert collapsed and made the road impassable. These aren’t just minor inconveniences, they are safety hazards and daily frustrations for people here in Lincoln County and across our state.

Ensuring that Maine has efficient, effective and well-maintained infrastructure is a matter of public safety. Good roads and bridges support our businesses, protect our emergency responders and keep us connected to the schools, workplaces and services we depend on. Last year, the Legislature passed a bipartisan, two-year transportation budget that invests in Maine people by funding the agencies responsible for repairing our roads and bridges. 

This budget allows the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) to repair and maintain our state roads and deal with the current backlog of projects in our state. To help accomplish this, MaineDOT recently released its three-year work plan— a document published annually that outlines the department’s strategy for road, bridge and other transportation upgrades and maintenance projects. This plan is our clearest window into what is coming and where state and federal dollars are being directed.

This three-year work plan represents a $4.5 billion investment in the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure statewide. It includes 2,798 individual work items spanning calendar years 2026, 2027 and 2028. That is an enormous commitment, and I am pleased to report that Lincoln County is seeing meaningful investment as part of this plan.

Here are several projects slated for our district: 

In Alna, MaineDOT will be working on two bridges in 2026: the Dock Bridge over the Sheepscot River will undergo rehabilitation, and the Ben Brook Bridge will be replaced. Looking ahead to 2027, John Erskine Bridge over Ben Brook will be replaced. Additionally, MaineDOT will be repaving the West Alna and Head Tide roads. 

In Jefferson, surface-level repairs will be made to Hotel Bridge over Davis Stream, and in 2027 Washington Road, East Pond Road, and several other smaller roads will be paved. 

In Whitefield, the Patridge bridge over the Sheepscot River will undergo improvements. Additionally, MaineDOT will be paving Cooper Road as well as various other roadways that intersect in the community. These are significant investments in both community connectivity and safety, as these structures and roads serve local residents and travelers year-round. 

In Wiscasset, work is set to begin on phase one of constructing a new wastewater treatment plant, along with repairs on Route 27 beginning at the intersection with Route One. This corridor is a critical artery, and improvements there will have a real and lasting impact on traffic flow and road safety. Additionally, multiple improvements are scheduled for Wiscasset Municipal Airport, reinforcing the importance of that facility to our regional economy and emergency services. 

I also want to note that my colleagues on the Transportation Committee are currently working on a supplemental transportation budget, which would make changes to the state’s current two-year budget enacted by the Legislature last year. This budget will help ensure there is sustainable funding for all of the infrastructure projects to come. 

These projects represent real progress, and I will continue to advocate for Lincoln County’s infrastructure and transportation needs as this plan moves forward. I encourage you to review the MaineDOT three-year work plan for yourself and to reach out to me with any questions or concerns about our local infrastructure. Our roads, our bridges and our safety matter, and I will continue to advocate for us in Augusta.

As always, please feel free to contact me at Wayne.Farrin@legislature.maine.gov with your questions and concerns.

Rep. Wayne Farrin is serving his first term in the Maine House, representing Jefferson, Alna, Whitefield and Wiscasset. He serves as a member of the Marine Resources Committee and the State and Local Government Committee.