York Town News
Local road improvement projects included in state plan
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - It will be up to the state's voters to decide whether to pass a $136 million transportation bond proposal in June, but if that plan does pass, the town could see some long-awaited road improvements coming to fruition.
State Rep. Windol Weaver, R-York, confirmed last week that the Maine Department of Transportation has released its Biennial Capital Work Plan for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to include projects for several areas of town.
The Work Plan, as the report is commonly known, lists anticipated capital transportation funding as well as the DOT strategy to apply this funding to specific transportation improvements throughout the state.
Weaver noted in his announcement that the projects listed for York include proposed improvements to two areas residents have long cited as dangerous intersections: where Ridge Road and Old Post Road meet and where Clark Road intersects with Route 1-A.
The list includes intersection improvements at Ridge Road and Old Post Road and a vertical realignment at the intersection of Route 1-A and Clark Road.
Also on the list, Weaver noted, will be the design and construction of a new building, scale pit and in-ground truck weigh scale at the Interstate 95 northbound truck weigh area; highway resurfacing on Route 1 beginning just south of Route 91 and continuing the full 7.5 miles to the Ogunquit line, and resurfacing on the Spur Road from Chases Pond Road to Route 1.
"The Legislature recently approved a $136 million bond proposal dedicated to transportation infrastructure needs, which will be presented to the voters in June of 2007 and June of 2008," Weaver wrote in his announcement of the roadway plan.
If those requests pass, he said, the bond proceeds will be combined with resources proposed in the governor's Highway Fund Budget and other proposals pending in the Legislature for a total of $754 million in capital projects.
For more information, Weaver said he would encourage residents to contact the Maine DOT Bureau of Planning at 624-3300.
The Work Plan for the entire state is available through the DOT link at http://www.mainedot.gov/.
