On April 8, 2024, the Town Council voted unanimously to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Scarborough for the Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (MNRCP) Sawyer Road project grant. The MNRCP awarded the Town of Cape Elizabeth with a $1.59 million grant to remove a 1/4 mile portion of Sawyer Road/Street that transcends the Spurwink Marsh in both Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough.  The total road removal will eliminate tide restrictions, restore saltwater marshland, and enhance emergent salt marsh upstream of the restriction. 

Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough Town Councils held a joint workshop on February 7, 2024 to discuss the grant project.  Residents are encouraged to view the video recording of this meeting, in which the reasoning behind this project is presented.

One of the principal goals of the Sawyer Street/Road removal project is to allow both communities to redirect road infrastructure funds to higher priority road infrastructure, such as Shore Rd in Cape and Route One is Scarborough.

Most of the failing road is located in the Town of Scarborough and that town is not interested in maintaining infrastructure in the marsh after this project is complete

Meeting materials and video from the February 7th Joint Councils Workshop are available here.

Below is a timeline of Critical Grant Dates outlined at the February 7 Joint Workshop:

• 2024 March:  Contract Issued
• 2024 Spring/Summer:  Environmental Assessment/Modeling Scoped
• 2024 – 2025:  Environmental Assessment/Restoration Plan Prepared
• 2025 December - 2026 April:  Implement Marsh Restoration
• 2026 December – 2027 February:  Road Removal
• 2027 February – April:  Road Bed Removal
• 2027 February – April: Road Bed Environmental Restoration
• 2028 – 2035:  Environmental Monitoring

As the project proceeds, the Town will provide updates, pertinent information, and answers to common questions on the website.

Is this the best use of infrastructure funding? 

Sawyer Road removal project actually supports making Shore Road a priority for transportation funds by eliminating the Sawyer Road maintenance costs.

Can a pedestrian/bicycle lane be included in this project?

Generally, this type of facility is incompatible with the project objectives and funding.

Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program (MNRCP) is very interested in funding this project precisely because it reestablishes full tidal flow to the marsh. MNRCP will not make its funds available to construct transportation infrastructure.

A pedestrian/bicycle facility created from the existing road bed leaves in place failing portions of the road that also continue to obstruct tidal flows.

Constructing an elevated pedestrian and bicycle facility in a manner that does not obstruct tidal flows is not funded at this time.

Will residents be able to access this area once the project is complete?

The Town of Cape Elizabeth will include in its public outreach an option to create a public access point where Sawyer Rd terminates at the marsh.