Maine: Lewiston

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services will receive $19.5 million under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program.

Sen. Olympia Snowe announced the funding this week as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Snowe and fellow Republican Sen. Susan Collins were two of only three GOP senators who issued the passage of the bill.

Snowe emphasized the need for water infrastructure in a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Dec. 22 stating that the projects could “quickly return benefits to local communities and their residents, employ workers in the ailing construction industry, help keep property taxes down, and make positive long-term in-vestments for communities’ continued growth and sustainability.

Interstate rehabilitation

I-295 reconstruction, Brunswick to Gardiner, $35 million

I-295 crossovers, Topsham and Gardiner, $1.375M

Highway reconstruction-improvements

Joline Drive, Auburn, $410,000

Joline Drive at Center Street, Auburn, $880,000

Route 15, Dover-Foxcroft, $2.7M

Route 1A, Ellsworth, $9.25M

Russell Street, Lewiston, $2M

Route 9, Lisbon and Sabattus, $11.1M

Route 117, Turner, $3.6M

Bridge improvements

Salt Bay Bridge, Damariscotta, $418,560

Deer Isle-Sedgwick Bridge, $5M

Second Street Bridge, Hallowell, $1.23M

Knights Hill Bridge, Lincolnville, $400,000

Bartlett Bridge, Portland, $1.68M

Spruce Head Bridge, South Tho-maston, $2.4M

Veranda Street Bridge, Portland, $1.185M

Lincoln Spur Bridge, off I-95 in T2R8, $1.596M

Interstate paving

I-95 from Howland to Old Town, $5.125M

I-95 from Mattamiscontis Town-ship to Howland, $4.05M

I-95 from T2R8 to Mattamiscon-tis, $2.6M

I-95 from T2R9 to T2R8, $2.5M

I-95, Portland, $239,000

Noninterstate paving

Minot Avenue, Auburn, $211,712

Route 202, Auburn, $306,461

Turner Street, Auburn, $332,380

Main Street, Lovell, $399,508

Forest Avenue, Portland, $348,709

Sebago Road, Sebago, $333,606

Route 114, Standish, $1.

AUGUSTA, Maine — The sale of high-caffeine “energy drinks” to minors could be outlawed if a proposal under consideration this week by Maine lawmakers is approved. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Peggy Pendleton, D-Scarborough, says consuming the sodalike drinks can cause health problems in young people, but a spokesman for the Maine Beverage Association argued that an age limit is unnecessary and unenforceable.

Other bills heard on Wednesday before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee include a proposal to prohibit smoking on Maine’s state park beaches and another to routinely include a patient’s HIV status as part of medical information exchanged between health care providers.

PolitickerME.com is on the trail with U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland) and former Sen. George Mitchell as they make four stops in Waterville, Skowhegan, Portland and Lewiston. Allen is challenging U.S. Sen. Susan Collins for her seat this year.