Bangor Cumberland Street Closure, What Drivers Should Expect

In my humble opinion, one of Bangor's upsides is that there are plenty of places "to get there from here," as they say. But what happens when the detours you use to get around construction spots in the city become the construction spots themselves?

If you use little cut-through streets like Cumberland and Harlow to bypass the downtown area, you'll have to find another way around starting next week.

According to officials with the City of Bangor, a $2.8 million project to lay new sewer, storm drain and water pipes and to reconstruct Cumberland Street to take out sections of grass, pave other areas and add sidewalks will begin directly after Labor Day weekend.

Part of the rework to that section will include installing a brand new water main that will replace the original cast iron piping that was put in in the late 1800s. This line has been the main feed line for the Thomas Hill Standpipe

Get our free mobile app

To complete this major project, however, parts of Harlow, Cumberland and Market Streets will need to be shut down at times.

"The project is scheduled to begin by Sept. 8, and for those initial three to five weeks, Harlow Street at the intersection with Cumberland will be closed. Motorists on Harlow traveling toward Downtown will be rerouted onto Kenduskeag Avenue, while drivers leaving Downtown will be redirected onto streets like Center and Spring.
The subsequent closing of Cumberland will last into early December."

The City's website goes into even more detail about what specific sections will be closed.

"The start of the project is subject to change depending on the delivery of some pipe and other fixtures. In addition to Cumberland Street, work will occur on Harlow Court (which extends down toward Kenduskeag Stream between the Penquis and federal buildings); in the Cumberland intersection with Harlow Street; and up Cumberland into the intersection with Center Street. Work also will be done on Market Street and at the Market and Cumberland intersection."

Folks will still be able to access the businesses and houses along Cumberland Street, officials say, but the timing of the access will depend upon where they are in the trench work of the project.

If you have questions about this upcoming project, you can reach out to the City of Bangor's Engineering Department by calling (207) 992-4250. You can also call the Bangor Water District to find out more. Their number is (207) 947-4516.