On March 9, 2026, the next step of Phase II of the Presque Isle bypass project began.

The prime contractor and subcontractor will begin tree clearing on the roadway alignment, which will continue through March and April. There will be no impacts to traffic at this time. Overall, the project work involves 6.17 mi. of new roadway, which will include five large box culverts, the construction of four bridges and the construction of a new interchange that will connect with Phase 1 of this project.

The recently started work will take place just more than half-a-mile south of the Presque Isle/Westfield town line and move north. Phase II is expected to be complete by fall of 2029.

The Presque Isle Bypass Project is a long-planned effort to improve mobility and safety by providing an alternative route for through traffic traveling around downtown Presque Isle. Community leaders, businesses and transportation officials have long discussed the need for a bypass to reduce congestion in the city center while improving the movement of commercial traffic through the region.

The project reflects years of planning and collaboration between MaineDOT, the city of Presque Isle and regional partners. With work now beginning on the ground, the project marks a significant step toward improving the reliability of this important transportation corridor and supporting the long-term economic vitality of northern Maine.

The prime contractor on this project is Sargent Corporation of Orono, Maine, and the contract amount on this project is $77,941,902.00.