Commissioner pegs PI bypass cost at $120 million
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt served as the guest speaker for the Maine Better Transportation Association meeting held Aug. 2 in Presque Isle. Bernhardt provided updates on the Presque Isle connector project and rail service in Aroostook County.
PRESQUE ISLE — Members of the Maine Better Transportation Association joined local and state officials at the Northeastland Hotel on Aug. 2, to discuss transportation developments in Aroostook County.
“Two major projects in Aroostook County have captured the headlines and imagination of Mainers in recent years: the soon-to-be-completed Caribou Connector and the state’s purchase of a major freight rail line in northern Maine. Great progress has been made on both projects, with the new rail operator, Maine Northern Railway, making investments, along with the state, to improve the rail infrastructure,” said Maria Fuentes, spokesperson for the MBTA.
Fuentes said now that the Caribou Connector is nearly complete, the state must look ahead to see where to secure funding for its companion project, the Presque Isle Connector.
Doug Hermann, president of the MBTA, of Yarmouth, kicked off the meeting, introducing several dignitaries in attendance, before briefly discussing the board meeting held earlier in the day and matters the organization plans to address in the future.
Alternative 7 (the dark line to the right of Route 1), once fully approved, will route traffic around Presque Isle, beginning from U.S. Route 1 just south of the Perkins Road, cutting across the Henderson and Cross roads, then traveling across farm land and crossing Route 10. From there, it will cross more farm land, cut across the Conant Road, then intersect with State Street Extension before connecting with the Fort Road. 
A bridge is expected to be built over the Aroostook River, with the route crossing the Reach Road and cutting across land west of the Higgins Road, finally connecting with Route 1 (Caribou Road) south of the Brewer Road intersection.
“We’ll begin promoting the $51.5 million bond. More cash needs to be put in the system to do projects, including the Presque Isle bypass,” said Hermann, who went on to introduce the evening’s guest speaker, Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt.
Bernhardt, who has been with MDOT since 1984, discussed both the Presque Isle project and rail in Aroostook County, sharing his views on where both are headed.
“Alignment 7, going from Route 1 to Route 1, will bypass Presque Isle. The project is broken up into three phases. The choice was made using information obtained through the Aroostook County Transportation Study and other input received,” said Bernhardt.
He indicated the environmental process could take four to five months to complete.
“The record of decision is expected by November, if all goes well,” he said.
The entire project, according to Bernhardt, will cost approximately $120 million and be about nine miles in length.
“The goal is to design sections 1 and 2 and build section 2. We have most of the funding, $22 million of the $26 million necessary,” said Bernhardt, as he explained where a limited number of access points would be located. “The connections will be along Route 1, Route 10 and the Conant Road. There will only be so many connections — limited access to the highway.”
Bernhardt said the project will be similar to Caribou’s, offering a “two-lane facility, with eight-foot shoulders.”
“Agricultural and residential property will be acquired and/or moved, with about 26 properties along the route needing to relocate,” said Bernhardt. “We have a couple years, by state law, to acquire.”
Rough design is expected to begin as early as September, with a full survey by May 2013. “We’d advertise for bids on the project by 2014, with hopes of having it completed by 2015,” said Bernhardt.
The commissioner said issues would be addressed “independently.”
“We’ll deal with things one-on-one. It worked well in Caribou; we’ll use the same process here. We’ll work with them, give it time to work so when we finally acquire (property), they’ll have had time to get out,” he said, noting, “some may continue to use the property until we have to begin work.”
Bernhardt said the DOT hoped to have the funding for section 1 by 2016-17.
“It’s section 3 that will take substantially more funds, due to the need for bridge construction,” he said.
“People will know very soon where the bypass is going. Stakes will be in place very soon. It will be a full-blown public process, with public meetings,” said Bernhardt.
Rep. Bernard Ayotte (R-Caswell) was among those in attendance and asked if the bypass was part of plans to extend I-95 north.
“To be honest, I don’t believe so. I-95 is a four-lane highway, (to extend) would be very difficult,” said Bernhardt.
“We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this. We’re all schedule driven. When you see dirt fly, it will fly quick,” said Bernhardt.
Bernhardt will return to Aroostook County Aug. 17, when he plans to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Caribou connector.
