Senator Collins Announces $27.8 Million to Restore Nearly 44 Miles of I-295

Funding will resurface nearly 44 miles of roadway between Portland and Topsham and improve safety, visibility, and drainage.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has been awarded $27,808,000 to restore nearly 44 miles of I-295 between Portland and Topsham. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) increased funding for the INFRA program by more than 50 percent, providing approximately $8 billion for the program from Fiscal Years 2022 through 2026. Senator Collins was part of the core group of 10 senators who negotiated the IIJA.

"Interstate 295 is a vital corridor in Maine's transportation network for residents, businesses, and visitors alike," said Senator Collins. "This funding will help extend the life of nearly 44 miles of I-295, improving safety and reliability for motorists traveling between Portland and Topsham. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I am pleased to see this law deliver significant investments in Maine's transportation infrastructure."

The project will resurface nearly 44 miles of I-295 between Portland and Topsham. Crews will mill the existing asphalt down to the concrete, perform structural concrete repairs, and install a stress-absorbing mastic interlayer and a high-polymer asphalt overlay. The project will also improve surface drainage, apply reflective pavement markings, upgrade guardrails, and replace weigh-in-motion and continuous vehicle count stations.

Since joining the Appropriations Committee in 2009, Senator Collins has helped direct more than $2 billion in federal funds to Maine's transportation infrastructure.

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