TURNER – Drivers using Route 4 in Turner can expect increased traffic congestion this week as three highway projects resume high-level activity.

Wet weather has delayed progress on the roadwork, which will resume in a “big way” this week, said Craig Nash, a project manager for the Maine Department of Transportation.

Congestion and delays are likely to be worse as paving begins in the three areas: Upper Street, north of Blake Street and north of Tidswell Road, Nash said, urging those who have alternate routes to use them.

“From our perspective, when people use alternate routes it reduces the overall number of vehicles traveling through the work area, which reduces the congestion, shortens the delays and makes the work zone safer for both drivers and workers,” Nash said in a prepared statement.

Because of weather delays, the three projects overseen by Nash will coincide with a crack-sealing project on Route 4 in Auburn.

“Unfortunately, we can’t simply postpone one job or the other because the contractors have other commitments to keep as soon as our work is finished,” Nash said.

The three projects in Turner each will involve putting down a layer of pavement to smooth out the existing roadway and another layer of new pavement to provide a new roadway surface. MDOT also will adjust roadside guard rails.

Drivers can expect to encounter one-lane traffic and temporary traffic signals in the vicinity of the paver once paving operations begin, Nash notes.

The contract covering all three of the Turner projects, awarded to Pike Industries of Lewiston on a bid of just over $932,000, calls for completion of all three projects by late this month.

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