Warming temperatures are a welcome relief for many Mainers. However, they are a signal of many other things here at Public Works.
For starters, there are posted roads. As you may have noticed, there are orange signs on the ends of various roads around town. This means we have already posted these roads. We encourage residents and business owners to visit the city’s web site at presqueislemaine.gov for a current listing of posted roads. Permits are available from Public Works on a case to case basis.
Spring projects have started as well. Our street sweeper will be out during the day and night. We sweep at night and early morning, enabling us to get areas that are congested during regular business hours due to traffic volume.
Patching potholes is also a very important part of Public Works. You will see our truck and roller out every chance we have to get the roads back in shape after winter.
Ditching the sides of the roads is important to keep water off the roadways. Water laying in the road often freezes, causing slippery conditions and rapid deterioration of the pavement.
Gravel roads become very soft this time of year. When possible, we advise people to avoid travel in these areas to prevent rutting.
Paving is a huge help in the city to take care of potholes, and it also smooths out rough roads to help keep them in shape. There is a list of all the potential roads and streets to be paved this year on the city’s website.
Catch basin repairs are imperative to keep stormwater under our roads moving. Mowing roadsides and ditches is also important to keep the tree and bush growth away from the edges of the roads.
These are a few of the tasks Public Works faces each spring. If you see some of the employees working in the street and other work zones, remember they are there to make things better for you and other travelers. Be patient and keep them safe.
Harley Carmichael Jr. is the Public Works Director for the City of Presque Isle. He can be reached at 764-2560.
