The first major phase of the Maine Turnpike's $135 million widening is expected to be done by the end of December.

According to Associated Press reports, the turnpike is being widened from four to six lanes between York and Scarborough. Turnpike officials say a third lane of the 1.5-mile Scarborough section will open by mid-December and a third lane of the five-mile York-Wells section will open by the end of the year.
Line painting in the Scarborough section is expected to wrap up by the end of next week, but the third lane will remain closed as work continues on the Holmes Road Bridge and on the highway's side slopes.
The 30-mile widening was approved by voters at a statewide referendum in 1997, AP reports.
Work on central sections of the widening area is expected to continue through the winter, including three bridges in the Scarborough-Saco area.
The Holmes Road overpass, which has been closed to traffic for several months, is scheduled to reopen by the end of the year.