Council favors preliminary MDOT design for town center
intersection, light
The Town Council is favoring a preliminary design developed by the Maine
Department of Transportation for the intersection at Shore, Scott Dyer and
Ocean House roads, and installation of a traffic light there.
At a workshop meeting Dec. 17, the council reviewed the results of a workshop
held with citizens on Oct. 27, and other issues concerning the intersection.
"It was the consensus of the Town Council that we move forward with the MDOT
preliminary design that generally aligns Shore Rd and Scott Dyer Rd and installs
a traffic light," said Town Manager Michael McGovern, in a letter to Shawn
Smith, project manager at MDOT.
In his letter, McGovern said the council's endorsement of the preliminary
design is contingent upon incorporating these elements into the final plan:
•Constructing sidewalks and crosswalks for all approaches to the
intersection to advance the Town Council priority to provide for safe pedestrian
circulation;
•Designing tight turning radii adequate for a school bus to the maximum
extent feasible for the Scott Dyer Rd and Shore Rd approaches;
•Exploring the potential for a combined sidewalk/bike lane to reduce
the extent of pavement;
•Utilizing a combination of textured pavement and raised planters only
where the planters will not block left turns for existing driveways;
•Adding landscaping to the intersection design to improve the aesthetics
of this gateway to the Town Center; and
•Minimizing the need to purchase additional right-of-way.
He said hopes to have several more meetings as the design evolves.
"I understand that meshing the physical constraints of this intersection
with transportation design standards has proved challenging," McGovern said
in his letter. "I appreciate your willingness to continue to work with the
Town and look forward to final resolution of this project," he said.
The council also reviewed a proposal to replace the intersection with a
roundabout, eliminating the need for a light. However, a major disadvantage
to the roundabout concept is the impact on adjacent properties and the need
to obtain rights of way, according to a report submitted by traffic engineer
Tom Errico, of Wilbur Smith and Associates.
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