HARRISON — Route 35 will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, Aug. 18, while Maine Department of Transportation crews replace a culvert just south of Zakelo Road.

DOT officials anticipate the work will be done by end of the day Thursday, Aug. 14, but Town Manager George “Bud” Finch said he believes the closure will be shorter unless weather conditions affect it.

The project will necessitate a 13-mile detour. It had been set to start this week but was delayed because of the weather.

According to information from DOT, motorists going north will encounter barricades with flaggers who will stop traffic at the northern entrance to Cape Monday Road. Only local traffic will be permitted.

Finch said there are no businesses and only a few residents who will be directly affected by the closure.

“There is some inconvenience for local traffic on the Naples end but there are local roads that will reduce some of that impact,” Finch said.

According to MDOT officials, the detour will begin at Route 302/11 in Naples. Traffic will be directed north along Route 302 from the Naples Causeway to Bridgton and into Harrison.

Motorists headed south will be detoured at Route 117 in Harrison to go south into Bridgton, east to Route 302 in Naples and Route 35.

“The detour seems like a long detour for those passing through the area but it is actually only a couple of miles longer to stay on Route 117 to and from Naples than it is to go on Route 35,” Finch said.

ldixon@sunjournal.com