Two traffic lights on state roads in downtown South Berwick are central to a proposed $7.6 million transportation project and will significantly improve traffic flow, according to officials with the Maine Department of Transportation and Sebago Technics, consulting firm for the project.
“Routes 4 and 236 are among the most heavily traveled roads in the state, ranking just behind Route 1 and 95,” Marty Rooney, project manager for MDOT’s Highway Development Program, said at a public meeting Oct. 6 at the South Berwick Community Center.
In addition to traffic lights, removing traffic islands at the two intersections where the lights are proposed – Portland and Main streets, and Main Street and Route 236 – as well as an island at the intersection of Main and Academy streets, will create space for turning lanes and increase safety, said Shane Kelly, a senior transportation engineer with the consulting firm.
Approximately 40 people attended the meeting or arrived earlier to view the plans at the open house prior to the meeting. MDOT will keep the meeting on its website’s “open meeting” * here* until Oct. 20 so residents not in attendance can view the project presentation and offer input.
Under the proposed plan outlined at the meeting, Paul Street will become a one-way street from Highland Avenue down the hill to Main Street, allowing for eight new public parking spaces on the street.
That will bring to seven the net loss of downtown parking spaces due to the traffic light at Portland and Main streets, Kelly said.
Pedestrian safety will be addressed by placing what Kelly called “bump outs” near crosswalks to help slow traffic and by adding more pedestrian operated flashing signals, he said.
Several residents asked if the Main Street speed limit could be lowered from 25 mph to 15 mph, suggesting the other changes proposed were unlikely to reduce traffic speed.
Rooney said the Town can request a speed limit change.
Other residents were concerned that drivers might bypass Main Street to avoid the lights, increasing traffic on side streets like Young and Butler streets and Sewall Road.
Bradley Lyon, vice president of transportation engineering at Sebago Technics, said the lights will reduce wait time at the intersections so drivers may be less likely than they are now to detour to side streets.
In fact, side streets may be more impacted during the anticipated 18-month construction period, Lyon acknowledged.
Town Councilor Paul Schumacher reminded the officials that installation of the traffic lights is central to the downtown revitalization effort and asked that the aesthetics of the project be considered. There already have been several discussions with the town Planning Department, Kelly said, assuring Schumacher the revitalization plan will be considered.
Rooney noted that the traffic lights and traffic flow improvement project remain in the design phase, and that residents’ feedback will help inform the final design of the $7.6 million project.
At this point, only the project’s design phase is funded, with $600,000 allocated by the State. Final funding of the remaining $7 million is expected to come from State and federal grants, with a 10% match from the Town, according to Rooney.
He indicated the project is high on MDOT’s priority list for funding in the 2028-2030 budget cycle and has the attention of state legislators, the Maine Congressional delegation, the Southern Maine Regional Planning and Development Commission, and local officials.
Planning Board member Tony Palazzetti asked if the project cost estimate is based on current costs or what costs could be by 2028.
“Current costs,” Rooney replied. “We can’t speculate what the price of asphalt, a petroleum-based product, will be with the way oil prices are up and down.”
