A lack of state highway money has halted plans for reconstruction of Brackett Road and part of Libby Avenue, a major commuter thoroughfare in Gorham.
“I’m sure that Brackett and Libby improvements will not be made this year in great part because of Maine Department of Transportation cash challenges,” John Duncan, director of Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Committee, said last week.
Herb Thomson, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said Wednesday the department had faced rising construction costs since 2005 when it deferred $130 million worth of projects. Thomson said costs have escalated 35 percent in the last two years.
The Gorham project was once scheduled to advertise for bids from contractors this month. But it doesn’t appear on a revised transportation department list with other advertising dates for this spring. And resurfacing of the roundabout in Little Falls also is a likely casualty of state funding problems.
But that doesn’t mean there will be no road construction this season. Two highway construction projects are under way in town, and bids will be sought next month for the long-awaited Gorham bypass. Construction of the 3.4 mile bypass would likely start this fall.
The Brackett Road-Libby Avenue reconstruction had earlier been estimated to cost $4.7 million. To pay for the town’s share of construction, Gorham voters approved a $1.3 million bond in November 2005.
Town Manager David Cole said Monday the town hasn’t borrowed the money yet.
Libby Avenue and Brackett Road serve as a thoroughfare to Scarborough and South Portland. Reconstruction was set to include that portion of Libby Avenue between Route 25 and New Portland Road and all of Brackett Road. The two roads, which intersect with New Portland Road, are classified as major urban collectors.
“We’re all pessimistic right now given the financial situation the state highway department is in,” Cole said.
Cole said a delay could cause construction costs to rise. He said asking local voters for more money to cover Gorham’s share could be a possibility in the future. “The road is getting worse every single year,” Cole said.
Thomson said voters in June will be asked to approve a $100 million bond for highway and bridge construction. “That would help move projects forward but not cover all needs,” Thomson said.
If that bond issue passed, it might increase odds that the Brackett Road-Libby Avenue project could start this year, Cole said.
Reconstruction would have created a total pavement width of 30 feet, including two 11-foot travel lanes and 4-foot shoulders on Brackett Road and Libby Avenue. Some residents of the neighborhood, like Denise Whitehead, are not disappointed by the delay.
Whitehead is one of the many residents who would lose some property to widen Brackett Road, and she feared reconstruction of Brackett Road would change the character of the area. Whitehead was told the trees and stone wall in front of her home would be left, although the state would buy them.
Whitehead, who has lived on Brackett Road for seven years, said a reconstruction delay allows more time to enjoy wildlife, homes and neighborhood. “It would be a reprieve and a break,” Whitehead said. “We chose to live out here in a quiet countryside.”
But Betty Knowlen, who has lived on Brackett Road for 39 years, is looking forward to the improvements so she can walk dogs safely along the road.
Knowlen said this week the road is in rough shape. “In places, it’s really bad,” she said.
June Leighton has lived on Brackett Road for 41 years and said traffic is causing chunks of the road to land on her lawn and passing trucks shake her house. Leighton said Brackett Road is in “terrible” condition. “The road needs to be fixed so bad,” she said.
Meanwhile, construction of the Gorham bypass, which could start this fall, would intersect with Narragansett Street (Route 202), would link South Street (Route 114) with Route 25 west of Gorham Village. The bypass is aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Gorham Village.
Getting under way last fall, a 7-mile reconstruction of Fort Hill Road (Route 114), which includes a water main extension, is expected to be completed by fall. “I believe it’s a little ahead of schedule,” said Dean Lessard, the Department of Transportation project manager.
Construction is also under way at the intersection of Mosher Road and Main Street. The intersection known as Mosher’s Corner is being reconfigured and a traffic light will be added.
Larry Kuusela, project superintendent for Shaw Brothers Construction Inc., said it would become a T-type intersection and the present slip lane onto Mosher Road for traffic from Westbrook will be eliminated. Kuusela said the intersection project would be completed by June 29.
Shaw Brothers Construction is also installing Portland Water District’s combined $6.1 million sewer line extension along Mosher Road from Little Falls and a water main extension in the Little Falls Village area. Jay Hewett, of the water district’s engineering department, said sewer line construction would continue through mid summer. Hewett expected the entire project to be completed by end of the year.
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