Bypass won’t be done until 2022 or later
Staff photos/Kathy McCarty
BYPASS UPDATE — Bruce Roope, chair of the Presque Isle Planning Board, at left, discusses the layout of the proposed bypass with Brad Foley, with the state’s Highway Program. Foley and other state officials were on hand at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center on July 18 to discuss the current status of the project. Standing to Roope’s left are Dick Howlett, president of the Star City ATV Club, and Larry Clark, executive director of the Presque Isle Industrial Council. Dozens attended the informational meeting.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK at where the proposed bypass will go is Albert Churchill, of Presque Isle, joined by Tammy Churchill and Macie Bartley. About 50 people turned out for the meeting, held at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center earlier this month.
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Officials were in town July 19 for a public information workshop on the Presque Isle bypass, providing local residents and municipal leaders an opportunity to meet and discuss the project.
“The project is divided into three phases: Segment 1 is U.S. Route 1 in Westfield to the Conant Road in Presque Isle; Segment 2 is Conant Road to the Fort Road; and Segment 3 is the Fort Road, crossing the Aroostook River, then connecting back to U.S. Route 1 north of Presque Isle,” said Paul MacDonald, project manager.
Phase 1 has received approval, with Segment 2 being the first constructed, according to MacDonald. He said due to financial constraints, the bypass will be constructed in three separate, buildable and usable phases.
“Phase 1 will involve the construction of Segment 2, Conant to the Fort Road, starting in 2015. Phase 2 will be the building of Segment 1, Route 1 near the Westfield town line to the Conant Road, beginning in 2018 — subject to the availability of construction funding. Phase 3 will be the construction of Segment 3 — Fort Road, across the Aroostook River, back to Route 1 — starting in 2022, which is also subject to the availability of funding,” explained MacDonald.
Maps were spread on tables, providing detailed images of the bypass layout. While most of it will cut across farmland, MacDonald said some homes will be affected as well.
At least one resident expressed concern over how the project would impact her family’s property.
“We’re Conant Road residents and don’t want to move. The bypass will affect our home,” said Heidi MacFarline, noting, “This is the first notice we’ve received indicating our property will be affected. This is the first time anyone’s contacted us, when we were notified of this meeting.”
MacDonald said some residents will be affected sooner than others, since the project will take years to complete.
“We’re working with residents to acquire right-of-way necessary for the project — purchasing property. It will be years before we’ll need to purchase some of these properties. Segment 3 won’t begin until 2022, so we’re not looking at purchasing anything in that area until at least 2020,” said MacDonald. “
MacDonald gave the following reasons the bypass is needed:
• Improve mobility by reducing travel times for through trips on Route 1 between points north and south of Presque Isle for present and future traffic;
• Improve public safety in downtown Presque Isle by reducing vehicular conflicts caused by an undesirable mix of local/through traffic and car/truck traffic;
• Reduce unsafe speed differentials along Route 1 in Presque Isle;
• Improve safety at five high-crash locations; and
• Provide better access to the east side of Presque Isle, particularly the Easton industrial area.
For more information on the project, call MacDonald at 624-3330. For the final environmental impact study, visit www.vhb.com/aroostook. For the record of decision, visit www.maine.gov/mdot/planningstudies/documents/pdf/pi/PresqueIsleBypassROD.pdf.
