In a letter to Westport Island Board of Selectmen, Maine Department of Transportation regional manager Michael Burns made a commitment to immediately address the worst portions of heavily damaged Rt. 144.
The letter states the Maine DOT will pave areas identified by Westport Selectmen as “significantly compromised” but called the autumn paving a “stop-gap measure” only intended to last until the summer of 2012 when a thorough maintenance surface project is scheduled to begin. The state agency cited a general lack of funds for its decision and expressed a desire “to address the maximum amount of area possible.” The letter followed a Sept 28 meeting between the Burns and Westport Island Selectmen to examine the situation first hand.
“We were ready for answers and held him to the stone. Overall I consider the letter favorable,” Selectman Jerry Bodmer said before the board’s Oct. 4 meeting.
After a cursory inspection of Rt. 144, Burns concluded that the road was not in “terrible” shape, said Bodmer. Taking considerable umbrage at Burns’ findings, board chairman George Richardson personally escorted Burns through the worst portions of the road pointing out sections he considered unacceptable.
In negotiations described by Bodmer as delicate, the selectmen collectively “hammered away” until Burns committed to “shimming” the affected areas. While a complete renovation of Rt. 144 is not possible due to extreme financial concerns at the state level, the promise of swift action momentarily pacified the board
“It’s next to nothing but it’s something,” Richardson said.
The DOT letter also stated that the road will be prepared for paving by replacing failed culverts and ditching areas where water problems exist, an initiative slated to begin sometime next year.
In other town business, the board approved $2000 in funding for the Beautification Plan of Wright Landing using funds from the Dogget Trust. Wright Landing committee member David Spiegel thanked the board for the approval and immediately began the task of purchasing trees for the landing.
The selectmen also approved and signed a submerged land lease from the Dept. of Environmental Protection for a proposed jetty. The board is still waiting for approval from the Army Corps of Engineers, the last major hurdle facing the project.
Selectmen will next meet Oct. 18 due to the Columbus Day holiday.
