Nighttime demolition work on the Bath viaduct is over — for now.

The $12 million project to demolish and reconstruct the viaduct connecting Route 1 to the Sagadahoc Bridge is on a tight schedule.

Originally built in 1958, the viaduct took more than two years to build. The new viaduct, however, will be completed in just eight months and is expected to last more than 100 years. Reed & Reed, a Woolwich-based company, has been contracted for the project. According to the original schedule, the viaduct is expected to be reopened by Memorial Day 2017.

This week, work was completed on the overnight demolition of the viaduct, and a representative for the Maine Department of Transportation stated that the project is ahead of schedule.

“The nighttime demolition is over, and right now we are in the process of building the pier columns,” said Glenn Philbrook. “Depending on the activity, we’re anywhere from two to three weeks ahead of schedule.”

Night work will resume, however, when they are ready to begin setting pier caps on the pier columns. According to MDOT, this work should begin in early-mid December.

“Contractors are now beginning to build the new Bath viaduct. New piers will support the viaduct spans that have been pre-fabricated. This approach will allow the project to be completed in one-third of the time required for the original viaduct,” stated a flier put out by MDOT.

While the viaduct is closed, Route 1 traffic has largely been diverted to Vine Street and Leeman Highway, which run parallel to it. Cross traffic has been relegated to Washington Street. MDOT continues to warn travelers to be prepared for delays of 3-5 minutes in off-peak hours and 10-15 minutes in peak hours.

nstrout@timesrecord.com

But not over …

• NIGHT WORK will resume when workers are ready to begin setting pier caps on the pier columns. According to MDOT, this work should begin in early-mid December.