AUGUSTA -- Transportation officials may shut down 22 miles of Interstate 295 southbound this summer to allow for speedy highway reconstruction.

The proposal to close all southbound lanes from Topsham to Gardiner and reroute traffic to U.S. Route 201 and the Maine Turnpike was presented as the preferred option Monday to municipal officials in communities along the corridor.

Joyce Taylor, assistant bureau director of project development for the Maine Department of Transportation, said closing the road increases safety for workers and travelers.

"Across the country, people are doing this," she said. "Using the get-in-get-out philosophy saves up to 75 percent of the time we normally estimate."

The proposal shocked some listeners into envisioning rosy -- or dire -- scenarios.

"Wow," said Richmond Town Manager Tom Fortier. "It is the tourist season. For Richmond, it would be a great economic development opportunity for us to bring people to our town."

But a little farther south, Bowdoinham Town Manager Kathy Durgin-Leighton said she worried some motorists would opt to travel Route 24 from Topsham to Gardiner.

"Route 24 right now is in horrible shape," she said. "It's windy, narrow and there's no paved shoulder."

She also said she was concerned about the effect of increased traffic on the village area and on people who bicycle around Merrymeeting Bay between Brunswick and Richmond.

"I don't want to overreact, but I want to see some careful planning," she said. "I was very happy that they came in and started planning and communication right now."

The state estimates the cost of rebuilding the double-lane concrete highway at $32 million.

Taylor said the concrete would be "rubblized" -- essentially broken up, ground and used as filler -- and then topped by asphalt.

The concrete roadway was installed about 35 years ago -- a typical interstate treatment, Taylor said -- but the costs of using concrete again are prohibitive.

"The issue with the concrete is some is failing and almost turning to dust," she said. "We can't predict how quickly that's going to happen. We have sections that are coming apart, and it's really a safety concern."

She said money is available to do only one side of the divided highway.

On Monday, DOT personnel visited eight communities likely to be most affected by the road closing.

"We went around today asking communities when their schools would be closing," Taylor said. "The earlier we can get in, the sooner we can get out."

She said some concerns revolve around the air temperatures needed to pave and the effect of stopped school buses on detoured traffic.

They talked with municipal officials in Gardiner, Litchfield, West Gardiner, Bowdoinham, Topsham, Brunswick and Richmond and left a message at the Bowdoin office.

In Litchfield, Town Manager Michael Byron asked them to return in two weeks with maps and details to speak to selectmen.

Byron said he expects to see increased traffic on Routes 196, 126 and Hallowell-Litchfield Road if the interstate's southbound lanes are closed.

"So far, people are very pleased that we went out and talked to them personally," Taylor said. "After the shock of the proposal, they say, 'You know, if you can get the trucks over to the turnpike, we can understand that this might work.' Everyone is open-minded and listening."

To minimize the effect on the heavily trafficked Topsham interchange, Taylor said DOT officials may attempt to reopen an old exit ramp temporarily.

"Our goal is to do that section of road and not be back in there for 20 years or more except for minor maintenance," Taylor said.

Taylor said DOT engineers consulted with contractors and were told the June 15 to Aug. 31 time frame was tight but possible, and any contract would carry incentives to finish earlier and penalties for being late.

"We do have some options," Taylor said. "We can go ahead with the same old project that we do piecemeal, a lane at a time. If we don't close the road down, (contractors) cannot do this amount of work in one season. It would be two or three seasons."

"We pay a premium (for work) on 295 because of traffic control safety," she added. "The bid prices are higher, related to safety and traffic control. Any time we have a lane closure on an interstate, you have people traveling very high speed and they come into an area where speed is reduced. That is a safety problem."

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com