DURHAM, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine Department of Transportation officials are overseeing a $4 million construction project to repair a section of Route 136, a part of the road they say is in danger of falling into the Androscoggin River.

The two mile stretch of road being worked on is between Snow Road and Stackpole Road in Durham.  DOT says it has been closely monitoring the roadway since heavy rainfall last spring. 

A section of Route 136 near the Durham/Auburn town line collapsed and fell into the river two years ago forcing the road to close for several months. 

DOT has put the fast track on this construction project to prevent the portion of road from being washed away before the winter travel season.

"This particular stretch, geologically it's very sandy, the banks are not very stable, so when the water gets high it puts extra pressure on them and they tend to fall and fail," DOT Asst. Highway Program Manager Scott Bickford said.

The two mile stretch in Durham is down to one lane while construction work continues.  Officials hope to have the new road ready for travel by Thanksgiving.

Maine DOT Project Manager Denis Lovely says officials are also closely monitoring a nearby section of road in Durham that has similar problems, and construction on that part of Route 136 may start next year.

For more information on the project, click here.

NEWS CENTER