03/17/2012

Awaiting government approvals, Town looks to start Shore Road Pathway construction by mid-May

The Town is looking to begin construction of the Shore Road Pathway by mid-May.

Town Manager Michael McGovern updated the Town Council on construction progress at their meeting March 12, 2012.

The hope was to advertise for bids on the project, a 2.2-mile path along Shore Road, on Feb. 29, and to have the path completed before the TD Beach to Beacon 10K on Aug. 4. "It won't be," McGovern said.

At Monday's meeting McGovern said the project had received the awaited "categorical exclusion" from the Federal Highway Administration OK'ing specs, plans and environmental impacts of the project. "So the good news is it looks like it's finally happening," McGovern said.

Changes in project-management personnel, and requests from the government for reformatted materials, contributed to the delays, McGovern said.

The project is now in the hands of the Maine Department of Transportation, and barring any further delay, the Town will advertise for bids on April 5, open them April 26, award a bid the week of May 1 and begin construction by May 14.

Construction will pause after noon on Thursday, Aug. 2, and all day Friday, Aug. 3, to accommodate traffic and other activity surrounding Beach to Beacon registration.

The $1.03 million project is being funded by a $729,000 federal grant and a $104,000 donation of privately raised funds. The balance is being financed by municipal sources, including the Town Center sidewalk account ($60,000); credit from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System ($40,000); a municipal Infrastructure Improvement Fund ($75,000); and monies from a 2008 bond ($26,000).