AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Transportation recently announced the opening of bids for highway improvements in the Bangor area and throughout the state, including part of Route 1-A in Winterport and Parkway South in Brewer.

Thomas DiCenzo Inc. of Calais was low bidder at $1,024,515 for the 1.3 miles of paved road project on Route 1-A in Winterport. Bids from six other contractors ranged from $1.10 million to $1.64 million for the project.

The Winterport project will include reconstruction of highway and base, new drainage and paving for a 24-foot-wide road with 8-foot paved shoulders and a climbing lane for northbound vehicles. The project begins 885 feet south of Route 1-A and Lower Oak Point Road and extends north 1.3 miles to a previous improvement project.

H.E. Sargent of Stillwater was low-bidder for a 1.3-mile paving project at The Forks Plantation at $1.05 million. Other bids ranged from $1.13 million to $1.28 million.

Work has begun at Parkway South in Brewer, where DOT officials said complete rebuilding of the street will be done to provide a new 24-foot-wide roadway with 8-foot shoulders and new underground drainage system.

Smith Construction Company Inc. of Newport was awarded the contract for its bid of $399,406.

“At the request of the city, we’re also putting in a new sidewalk on the east side of Parkway South between Greenwood Drive to Robin Hood Drive,” said Galen Costigan, resident engineer for the project.

Costigan said that two-way traffic would be maintained, with some occasional delays, during the construction period. The project begins at Parkway South and Elm Street and extends to Pendleton Street.