AUGUSTA – State road crews will begin repairing and repaving a lengthy section of Route 52 Monday in the towns of Camden, Lincolnville, Northport and Belfast, the Maine Department of Transportation said in a press release Thursday.

“This paving project includes a significant section of Route 52, and this construction certainly has been eagerly anticipated by area residents,” said David Cole, commissioner of the Maine DOT.

“Crews will be working into October in order to greatly improve driving conditions along this section of Route 52,” Cole said. “At a time when we are cutting back on paving projects due to the skyrocketing costs of asphalt, this project has remained a priority.”

Starting on Aug. 25, crews will start work on more than 17 miles of Route 52 beginning at the intersection of Routes 52 and 1 in Camden and heading north to the Belfast town line.

Contractors working for the DOT first will level out the road by placing a layer of recycled asphalt material over portions of Route 52, then paving over it with a thin shim of pavement before placing the final surface of asphalt over the shim.

Drivers need to be aware of uneven pavement conditions in the construction zone along the centerline and he shoulder, as well as construction trucks traveling to and from the project.

Maine DOT crews will work with contractors from Marriners Inc. of Rockport and Vaughn Thibodeau & Sons of Bangor.

Motorists traveling Route 52 should expect delays, as there will be alternating one-way traffic during work hours. Construction will be limited to weekdays, because the contractors are not allowed to work weekends. Two-way traffic will be maintained during nights and weekends.

If work proceeds on schedule and there are no unexpected delays or problems, construction should be complete by Oct. 4, Cole said.