OXFORD – Paving on Route 26 is expected to be completed by Friday, but the end date for the 3-mile makeover has been pushed back a week to July 27.

Cory Nutting, coordinator of the $1 million project, said Friday that the paving work is running ahead of schedule.

Travelers will get a break from June 29 through July 9 when the project is shut down temporarily. When the crew returns it will complete the guardrail and curbing work, tying driveways into the road and other jobs.

At that point two-way traffic could be maintained throughout the day, Nutting said.

The crew generally works from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but paving is usually stopped about 3 p.m. to allow both lanes to reopen. On Friday, both lanes are opened at 11:30 a.m. for the weekend.

Once completed, the project will provide new drainage and guardrails in addition to the resurfacing from the intersection of Fore Street north to the Norway town line.