Vassalboro road discussions dominate select board meeting

by Mary Grow

Two road projects dominated discussion at the Vassalboro select board’s June 27 meeting.

Town Manager Aaron Miller summarized Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) plans for work on two stretches of Route 32 (Main Street) this summer. Longer-range, board members shared information on replacing the Mill Hill Road bridge over Seven Mile Stream, in southwestern Vassalboro.

MDOT submitted requests to transport overweight equipment over municipal roads, if necessary, for two Route 32 projects. One begins 1.14 miles north of the Gray Road intersection and extends about three-quarters of a mile. The other begins about a quarter mile north of the Getchell Corner Road intersection and runs for a little more than two miles.

On Miller’s recommendation, select board members approved the overweight documents. The manager expects work to begin sometime after the July 4 holiday.

The failing culvert on Mill Hill Road has been discussed repeatedly. Select board members learned last fall that although it is MDOT engineers who are evaluating the culvert, replacing it is the town’s responsibility.

The state Department of Marine Resources is also interested, because an improved stream passage will benefit alewives and other migratory fish.

A letter to Miller from DMR Resource Management Coordinator Lars Hammer estimated the cost of replacing the culvert at $3.6 million. Hammer wrote that grants would be expected to cover 80 percent of the cost; another $721,940 would have to come from “the town or another non-federal source.”

Miller said the town is applying for grants. Two applications are due in July.

Three area residents attended the June 27 meeting. Their main concern is how long the dead-end road will be closed.

Vassalboro resident and DMR employee Nate Gray said the closure period would vary, and could be non-existent; the contractor might be able to keep the present road open while building beside it.

Gray does not expect the work to be done before 2026.

In other business June 27, board members set their summer meeting schedule. They will hold one July meeting, on Thursday, July 25, and one August meeting, on Thursday, Aug. 8.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 5, they plan to go back to the usual two meetings a month.