Congress Square Intersection Improvements

Update for October 2026: New planter bed plantings have been installed. Meanwhile, the contractor is scheduling a drilling rig for the mast arm foundations, which were recently redesigned to accommodate bedrock conditions. The mast arm installation and the majority of the remaining site work are expected to be completed late this fall. This will position the project for final paving in Spring 2027.

8/28/26: The City of Portland Department of Public Works is providing an update regarding the Congress Square Intersection Improvements project. To ensure the successful completion of critical infrastructure upgrades, the project timeline has been revised, with a new substantial completion date of October 31, 2026.

During excavation for the mast arm foundations for the new signal, the contractor encountered bedrock conditions different from those indicated by the previous borings. This prompted the need to redesign the mast arm foundations. The contractor is anticipated to remobilize back to the site on Tuesday September 8, 2026.

Project Scope
Congress Square stands as one of Portland’s most vibrant urban spaces, weaving together multimodal connectivity, historic character, and bustling activity. Anchored by Congress Street and High Street, this high-traffic intersection serves as a vital gateway to the City’s peninsula, while also showcasing prominent landmarks and culturally significant buildings. With this location’s unique challenges and opportunities in mind, the City has prioritized making strategic improvements to enhance safety, accessibility, and overall functionality for all users. To ensure Congress Square continues to serve as an inclusive and dynamic public space, the planned enhancements will focus on critical infrastructure upgrades, such as sidewalk improvements, ADA-compliant access, modern traffic signal technology, lighting enhancements, and landscaping that complements the area's aesthetic. This project reflects Portland's commitment to forward-thinking urban design.

The intersection work, shall generally be conducted on one quadrant of the intersection at a time and adequate pedestrian routing will be provided throughout the duration of the project to provide as little inconvenience as possible to pedestrians and businesses.

The public should expect delays during construction. Traffic will be maintained throughout the duration of construction as follows:
• Congress Street: One lane in each direction
• High Street: Two lanes approaching Congress Square
• High Street: One lane leaving Congress Square
The only exceptions to this will be during periods of milling and paving.

Project Contact
Kris DeVolder
Senior Engineer
kdevolder@portlandmaine.gov
(207) 874-8817