To the Editor:
Where were the people of Nobleboro on Oct. 26 when we met at the Nobleboro Central School to discuss Gateway 1? The Maine Dept. of Transportation has a $30,000 grant to discuss the so-called traffic growth, planning and development of our little village. This is the first of three monthly meetings. The second is on Nov. 16 and the third and final occurs in Jan. 2011.
The question I asked at the first meeting was why DOT was considering bike paths, sidewalks, shared driveways when the money needs to be spent on roads and bridges? No answer from them.
Since they have all this money, I am requesting that they spend a share of it where it is needed most – on the E. Pond Road, Nobleboro. Since I’ve lived here we have a portion of this road, approximately a quarter mile off Rt. 1, that floods several times a year. This occurs due to heavy rains and spring thaws.
Routinely, DOT will place a warning flag – road flooded sign and usually a barricade across the flooded section. This time on Nov. 8, there was the deepest water accumulation I’ve seen, yet – probably two feet – and no barricade up.
When I looked out my window Nov. 8 at 6:30 a.m., due to the noise of back up traffic starting and stopping, I saw a single lane of vehicles moving slowly. I called DOT and a man who identified himself as “just the clerk” told me to speak with the supervisor. I then spoke with Mike Burns – “supervisor.” I told him of my concerns as to safety and ongoing floods. I asked him why DOT has $30,000 for Gateway 1 projects and cannot or will not fix these problems first? No answers.
His only question to me was “Are there barricades up?” Why was he asking me when he was the one in charge? No – no barricades.
On Nov. 9, the noisy traffic continued. Much of it due to vehicles’ squeaky, wet fan belts. Some were too afraid to pass through and turned around in my driveway to avoid it. One little car got stuck in the center and vehicles had to go around it. After about an hour a wrecker towed it away.
On Nov. 11, the water leaving the “puddle” tracked up the road and froze, leaving ice. A small truck passed by and swerved from side to side on the ice (going very slowly) and almost went off the road. Several hours later, a sand truck (town) came and put one load of their sand. Luckily, nobody was hurt. I had called, again, earlier, and left a voice message – nobody available?
On Fri., Nov. 12, DOT came out and drained the water. Why aren’t they filling in the swamp that can’t contain all this water? Most of the trees there are dead or have fallen so there isn’t anything left behind to hold the water. Why no barricade?
Each year, WCSH sends a reporter out to show this on the local news. They usually stop by my house to say someone sent them e-mails. Was it me? No, I call the DOT!
So why is DOT spending $30,000 for Gateway 1 and not preventing these floods? Will it take a serious accident, death or a lawsuit?
When my house burned two years ago and the fire trucks entered my dooryard, God bless them, my culvert in my driveway was crushed and plugged. I called DOT (the owner) and asked for help. They told me the cost to me was $500 to replace this.
I asked why, since their huge trucks make numerous turns over this culvert when working this flood zone and paving the road. They did not accept responsibility for this.
So, I am asking them now for a portion of the $30,000 Gateway 1 grant for very good practical causes.
First, fix the swamp – permanently. Second, place a “No jake brake” sign on the corner rounding my home. The noise is so loud that you cannot sit on the back patio and talk or hear anything.
This is not my first and probably not my last suggestion to DOT. They will hear from my, again, in the near future, the next flood.
Pam Miller, Nobleboro
