AVON – The Maine Department of Transportation announced it will not remove the glaring orange signs that mark a detour around Route 4 in Avon until July 2.

The decision comes despite talk last week that DOT was considering opening up the stretch of the major arterial to the Rangeley Lakes Region between Strong and Phillips to one-way alternating traffic in response to pleas from Avon business owners.

Detour signs are posted as DOT reconstructs a bridge in the center of the 3.8 mile stretch they are revamping as part of a $3.8 million project.

Local business owners asked DOT to open the route, saying the detour was driving business away, literally, as traffic has been rerouted from Avon and onto routes 145 and 149 in Strong since late May.

DOT project manager Heath Cowan said the contractor, E.L. Vining, is sensitive to the sentiments of Avon business owners and wants to get the road open as soon as possible.

However, Cowan said after much discussion, it was decided that keeping the road closed until July 2, when it will be open to two-way traffic, “is the best thing for everyone.”

Still, area businesses are accessible because the only part of the project that is not passable is the bridge.

Once the detour is removed, construction along the stretch will still be ongoing, Cowan added, and said it may be slow going.

A second closing was pushed back from July to after Labor Day in response to business owners wanting to take full advantage of summer tourism. The closing will last two weeks, Cowan said.

The entire project will be wrapped up by winter.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com