News

Gray Bypass Update
DOT, MTA, local Reps meet

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
By Rep. Susan Austin

The Maine Turnpike Authority met for its monthly meeting at the Conference Center of the Pineland Campus on Thursday, April 28th, 05. Because the meeting was held in our region there was a presentation by MDOT on the By-Pass Project for Gray with input from the MTA and the opportunity for Q&A.

The MTA and MDOT then unanimously voted to pass a Memorandum of Understanding for this collaborative project. The construction which had originally been slated to go out in two separate bid packages has been combined now into one to realize savings through an economy of scale.

Picture:
Paul Violette, Executive Director of MTA, Greg Nadeau, Rep. for Commission Cole, MDOT, Gerard Conley Sr., Chairman, MTA
Sue Austin, State Rep. for portions of Gray, No. Yarmouth & Pownal

Some abutting property owners are still working through the land acquisition process with MDOT. Jeff McEwen of that department shared that work sessions are scheduled for the first week of May to make final decisions on the configuration of the north bound intersection of the By-Pass connecting to Rt. #26. The Morrill Auction property beside the turnpike is proposed to become the new Park and Ride Site in that relocation piece of construction as the bridge is widened. The Turnpike consultant mentioned there is a possibility that through acquiring this property a reasonable possibility for dealing with future capacity loads could see a south entrance ramp on this property. This is a cost sharing project of 80/20% between the MDOT and MTA with the project valued at $8.5 million. The MTA portion is actually the draw down for the Federal Funds match enabling this project to move forward.

During the summer the Gray Water District will be doing a capacity upgrade of the existing water line starting near the entrance of the Enercon Business Park through to the water line's termination prior to Ramsdell Road entrance. By late fall/early winter '05 the bid will go out for the addition of one lane to the Rt. #202 bridge and the By-Pass construction with the contract being awarded just prior to the turn of the New Year '06. The By-Pass reaching full operation is estimated for the end of 2006. As with any significant construction it is expected that the finalizing of punch list work will carry over into the early part of 2007.

The signage at intersections will be designed to route through traffic onto the By-Pass to reach Rt. #26. The By-Pass will officially become a continuum of Rt. #26. The approximate ¾ mile piece of Shaker Road from Gray Village to the new north bound intersection with the By-Pass will remain the Shaker Road under the care of MDOT.

With the goal of staying to the present scope of the project, not surpassing the estimated project costs and the successful completion, the two departments are very cognoscente of the long history of this intended project to alleviate the over due compression of traffic in Gray Village. They have verbally acknowledged to me that they recognize the need for the people of Gray and our region to witness the BREAKING of ground!

Rep. Susan Austin (R-Gray) represents District 109 - Part of Gray, part of North Yarmouth and part of Pownal