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Route One Alternative Decisions

(This site was begun on 12 December 2007.  Please send materials (documents, maps, newspaper articles, letters, photos, etc.) for posting to Morrison or to R.O.A.D. at P.O. Box 390, Newcastle, 04553 Thank you.)

NEW ITEMS ON THIS WEBSITE....

19 May 2009.  Maine Legislature considers bill to put time limits on MDOT land acquisition for transportation projects.  See Links to Articles.

9 February 2009 Army Corps of Engineers asks for more information on ByPass options.   See Links to Articles.

17 December 2008. The Bypass Task Force concludes its work with an agreement on the connection of the proposed Bypass to Route 218.  See Links to Articles.

17 December 2008.  Times Record reports that Maine DOT has submitted Bypass plans to Army Corps of Engineers.  See Links to Articles.

24 September 2008. Lincoln County News article about 18 September Task Force meeting about ByPass interchanges with Routes 27 or 218.   "DOT Open to Rt. 27 Full Interchange Plan"  See Links to Articles.

13 September 2008. Letter by Steve Cartright to Kat Fuller, Chief Planner of MDOT. See "Latest News"

3 September 2008 Letter by Morrison Bonpasse to the Editor of the Lincoln County News about the Smart Sign: "Beginning of Sensible Management")  See Links to Articles.

3 September 2008.  "County Board Approves MDOT Travel Advisory Pilot"  by Greg Foster in the Wiscasset Newspaper.  See Links to Articles.

2 September 2008. Alternative Energy Fair in Union puts Wiscasset ByPass in context.  See Links to Articles.

28 August 2008. In Lincoln County News and Wiscasset Newspaper, MDOT announces establishment of Smart Signs on Route 295 in Brunswick which will announce "TRAFFIC DELAY - WISCASSET." See Links to Articles.

22 August 2008.  Times Record and Lincoln County News publish letter to Editor by R.O.A.D. Co-Chair, Morrison Bonpasse, in response to MDOT's Kat Fuller's letter.  See Links to Articles.

14 August. Portland Press Herald reports decline in vehicle traffic statewide. See Links to Articles.

14 August.  Kat Fuller of MDOT writes letter re: Wiscasset Bypass, published in Lincoln County News and Wiscasset Newspaper and the Times Record.  See Links to Articles.

24 July.  Task Force gets more details on alternative measures to ameliorate Wiscasset traffic. 

2 July.  Bypass Task Force unaminously says "not opposed" to MDOT Route N2a. See Links to Articles.

R.O.A.D. was formed in December, 2007 and held its first meeting on 11 December.

The SPECIFIC route one goals of R.O.A.D.:

1. Normal traffic flow . Significant efforts should be made to enhance the flow of traffic on the existing route. Such efforts would include webcams located at least two or more points on the route, and signage on Route 95 about Wiscasset traffic, and one or two tunnels in Wiscasset to permit cross-town traffic.

2. Bypass . IF those efforts to enchance the flow along the existing route do not achieve sufficient results (and the definition of "sufficient" is an important question), then a bypass may be necessary. The route most consistent with the "truths" below would be a southern route, with an underground section along the Wiscasset waterfront, and a connection to the Davey Bridge.

3. Minimize costs . Cost to the Town of Wiscasset and Edgecomb and the State of Maine and U.S. by improvements should be minimized.

4. Minimize environmental damage . Environmental damage to the Sheepscot River by improvements should be minimized.

5. Maximize the traffic flow enhancement of the 2009 MDOT Wiscasset Project.

other goals of R.O.A.D.:

1. To create and maintain on the www.wiscasset-road.org website a repository of ideas and information about the Wiscasset corridor traffic problem.

2. To provide a long-term forum for reasonable resolution of the problem.

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS 

There are fundamental truths involved in the Wiscasset Route 1 corridor.

1. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

2. In the long term, there will be only one Wiscasset bridge over the Sheepscot River. If a second bridge is built for a bypass, the Davey Bridge will be doomed. If a bypass must be built, it should connect to the Davey Bridge.

3. From the Kennebec River in Woolwich to the St. Croix river in Calais, Route 1 is a two-lane road with several "slow zones" through cities and towns including Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset and Thomaston.

4. The Wiscasset traffic flow problem is primarily a seasonal, Summer problem occurring a few hours a day, a few days a week, a few months a year.