OLD TOWN – Three major Maine Department of Transportation road improvement projects are scheduled to begin on main city roads in the next few months.

The largest project is the replacement of the Old Town-Milford bridge, which is slated to begin in May. Bids for the project will be advertised this month.

The first step in the project will be to create an alternate throughway across the Stillwater River to Milford, Old Town City Manager Peggy Daigle said.

“We’re not anticipating that the traffic should be too bad,” she said.

DOT officials have told city representatives that the bridge is expected to be completed by July 30, 2008.

“MDOT has given consideration to the businesses located at the construction area and will work to assist them during the project,” Daigle wrote in a memo to update city staff on the project.

Paving projects also are slated for Center and Main streets during the same time, but aren’t expected to create extensive traffic interruptions or delays. The paving is expected to take about a month, Daigle said.

“During the time that they’re building the temporary bridge structure, another crew will be doing Center Street and Main Street, and they’ll be done well before they do any tearing up of the old bridge.” Daigle said.

The city already is working on the logistics of transportation during the process, according to Daigle.

“It’s an MDOT project, but we need to coordinate public safety, emergency service traffic, and public works,” Daigle said.

Bridge construction is expected to begin May 18 and adhere to the following schedule:

. May, June, July, August: Removal and cleanup of Dave’s Service Center on Center Street, utilities and drainage installed, temporary two-lane detour bridge designed and delivered.

. August to December 2005: Temporary detour installed, paved, and traffic is switched over to temporary lanes by Dec. 15, 2005.

. December 2005 to September 2006: Construction of upstream section of new bridge and cofferdams.

. September 2006 to July 2007: Existing bridge removed, construction continues on new structure.

. July 1, 2007: Traffic moved onto new bridge.

. August 2007 to July 30, 2008: Temporary detour removed.

. July 30, 2008: Work completed.

“It’s going to look like a chaotic mess, but it’s very well-organized,” Daigle said.