Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – City officials presented an alternative to prior bypass options during a meeting Thursday, with representatives from state and federal agencies in charge of overseeing the project and its progress.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
Ray Faucher, project planning engineer for the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), went over the various bypass options currently being considered to route traffic to the east of Presque Isle. City, state and federal officials met at City Hall Jan. 10 to discuss an option presented by the city that is a variation of another proposal but that has garnered more landowner approval.
Talk of creating a bypass that would serve as a faster route for traffic from I-95 to the St. John Valley began in earnest around April of 1999. Over the years, the number of possibilities for routes in the Presque Isle area has decreased from nearly a dozen to six options: 1b, 2x, 4, 4a, 4b and 6. Thursday’s meeting was an opportunity for representatives of the city to meet with state and federal government officials to discuss the bypass and offer an alternative to the list of options. Representing the Army Corps of Engineers was Jay Clement, permit project manager. Also present were: Ray Faucher, project planning engineer for the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT); and Mark Hasselmann, right of way and environment program manager, Maine Division, for the Federal Highway Administration, of Augusta.
City officials – including City Manager Tom Stevens, Planning and Development Director Ken Arndt, City Council and the city’s Planning Board – reviewed the options, meeting with local landowners who would be affected by the various routes. While not all landowners were receptive to the proposed bypass, property owners closer to option 2x were more amenable to the project. Because of this, city officials came up with an alternative to 2x that, with a few minor changes to the route with development taking place on property with owner’s approval, would result in a more peaceful partnership between property owners and project officials.
A second alternative to 2x was suggested by VHB, Inc., after the consulting firm completed the Aroostook County Transportation Study. This route did not have as much landowner approval and was not considered a viable option by the city.
Thursday’s meeting focused on three options in particular: 2x, the city’s alternative to 2x and 6.
“The city offered a seventh option – a suggested modification to 2x. Based on the drawing (a map with each route marked that can be viewed at City Hall), the ones considered are the farthest and second farthest east, toward the Easton/Presque Isle town line,” said Arndt, in a phone interview on Monday.
Arndt explained that all options, including the one suggested by the city, would divert traffic from Route 1 in the vicinity of Clark Brook Hill and continue north just east of the city, looping back around to reconnect with Route 1 just north of the city near the Family Christian Center.
“Traffic would enter the bypass around Clark Brook Hill, just north of the Westfield town line. A new bridge would be constructed off the Fort Road near the Smith Building (former USDA building),” said Arndt.
City Council Chairman Walt Elish said discussions with farmers were receptive to the city’s proposed bypass option.
“We spoke with farmers (in the area of the city’s suggested route for a bypass). It wouldn’t impact their farmland to a great extent. It’s going to impact the land; they know that. What they tried to do is come up with a route that’s the best case for them,” said Elish. “They determined the land that was less usable to them that they could afford to part with (in order) to stay in business.”
“The Corps and DOT looked to put forth a fair design. If the city feels strongly about putting that option forward, we need to know the wetland savings of that alternative and the farm savings – apparently (there are) a little of both,” said Clement. “We need to strike a balance between wetland/aquatic resources and farmland.”
“Even when/if we do select an alternative, there are further opportunities to minimize impact,” added Hasselman.
Faucher, Clement and Hasselmann listened as city representatives provided their input on the bypass and the city’s alternative to the project. It was noted that while there wasn’t currently money available to fund the full length of the bypass, from I-95 to the St. John Valley, funding was in place the portion in the Presque Isle area. The three agreed to give the alternative consideration but noted, should that route be the final choice, it could set the project’s completion back by several months. It was indicated that regardless of the route selected, a second bridge across the Aroostook River would be beneficial from a safety standpoint.
“We look at an entire bypass from end to end. (It’s a matter of) what can you save from a distance perspective – whether to use the bypass or Route 1 which are basically the same. But from a time perspective, the bypass would save,” said Faucher.
A second bridge would divert traffic from the intersection of Maysville and Main streets, thus reducing the number of accidents; it would also provide an alternative means for getting emergency vehicles to the other side of the river, should anything happen to the current bridge, said Faucher.
Bruce Roope, a member of the Planning Board with ties to the farming community, expressed concern over the lack of communication with local landowners up to this point.
“The thing concerning me more than anything else – until recently, landowners weren’t brought in to determine what was a workable solution. (Most options) go through the middle of our land. The Potato Board was instrumental in facilitating in November when we laid out an option to the city,” said Roope, noting how it would be wrong to take a look at the option only to have it tossed out because of the time frame.
Faucher said officials have met with farmers over the past seven or eight years, laying out some options and how best to follow the edge of farmland as much as possible to reduce the impact to farmers.
“We’re trying to balance out these options,” said Faucher.
Roope also addressed the issue of truck traffic and the need to remove heavier vehicles from the flow of vehicles traveling through the downtown area.
“Most trucks are coming from the west. (The goal is) to get them to the Conant Road to get them to McCain’s and Huber. That’s the community’s major concern – reducing the bottleneck downtown. Our major traffic is west to east. You’re laying out a huge project that could be answered with a simple fix,” said Roope to applause from those in attendance.
Faucher said from the beginning the goal of the bypass project has been to expedite traffic.
“Based on what we’ve been charged to do, most of the development and activity in this area is on the east side of the community. The decision was made that we should be looking at the entire bypass. This could be a component of the bypass – looking at a possible connection (to get truck traffic) to the Conant Road,” said Faucher.
Discussion came to a close with Elish again acknowledging the city’s proposed route would gain the most landowner approval.
“I think, from our discussions, if it does get built, that the route between the Fort and Conant roads would get the most approval,” said Elish.
“I agree. Reducing traffic at one of your biggest problem areas – Maysville and Connector – should be a priority,” said Faucher.
Faucher indicated it could take up to two years to complete the project, once an option is selected, adding the segment of the bypass to the east of Presque Isle could be under construction by 2010.
City Council will continue the bypass discussion in coming weeks.
“The Council needs to decide whether they want to continue supporting landowner suggestions. If the city wants to accept minor adjustments, (city officials) may have to consider accepting a slightly longer permitting process. I suspect the Council will discuss (the bypass) at their next meeting and vote on it in the near future,” said Arndt.
City Council could discuss the matter as early as Tuesday, Jan. 22, its next scheduled meeting. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate.
