Phase two of
Second Street project begins
IN THE CITY
by Gerry James
The Public Works Crew has started work on phase two of the Second Street rehabilitation project. This is the section between State Street and Academy Street and also includes State Street from Main to Third Street. Two inches of old pavement have been ground off to make a more uniform surface for paving.
The crew will be resetting the granite curbing, regrading the sidewalks and widening them to five feet. Once they have repaired and regraded all of the storm drains the streets will be repaved.
Phase three is the section between Blake Street and Church Street and includes milling and paving Church Street up to Third Street in 2011.
Now that the construction and maintenance season has begun, I would like to remind everyone of the importance of work zone safety.
Summer means construction and maintenance season for the highway crews. The season is never long enough to complete all of the work we would like to do. Add in a few rain days and the days available for work, especially paving projects, are even fewer. Some projects take longer than expected to complete. The longer a project takes, the more irritated some drivers become by the inconvenience of the traffic restrictions. They tend to speed through the work zones, ignoring the warning signs and speed limits.
The signs, cones and barricades are there to warn motorists that work is being done and that reduced speeds and caution are needed to travel through the work area. In Maine, as in other States, fines may be doubled for speeding in a work zone.
When crews are concentrating on their work and machinery is moving around they may unexpectedly step into traffic areas. While crew members must always be aware of what they are doing, it is extremely important for motorists to have their vehicles slowed and be prepared to stop or avoid the unexpected. If you are going too fast or not paying close attention to what is going on around you, you could seriously injure yourself or someone else. Please slow down and be cautious in any work area. Our crews are instructed to accommodate the needs of the traveling public as much as possible, but they still must get their work done.
Another problem that we have experienced during the summer is the removal of traffic cones, barricades and signs from work areas. Work area signs and road construction signs are there to make motorists aware of hazards in the roadway. Traffic cones, barrels, barricades and directional signs are there to guide motorists safely through the work zone and protect them from potential hazards.
Over the past few summers the city has “lost” approximately one hundred traffic cones and several signs. These cones cost from twelve to fifteen dollars each, depending on size and reflectivity. The monetary loss to the highway department is substantial, but the danger that motorists are exposed to by their removal is even greater. Removal of any work zone traffic control device could cause serious injury to a motorist who is unaware that a hazard may exist in the roadway ahead.
All of the city’s traffic control devices are marked “PIPW or “PIHD”. We will ask the police to issue a summons to anyone who removes, displaces or possesses any of our traffic control devices.
The Presque Isle Public Works crew is encouraged to be as courteous and helpful as possible. Please return that courtesy, after all they are working to make our community safer.
Gerry James is public works director for the city of Presque Isle. He can be reached at 764-2560 or via e-mail at gerryjames@mfx.net.
