Congressman Mike Michaud has announced that a number of Maine projects will be receiving investments from Federal Highway Administration programs.
"These investments will help improve the safety and sustainability of Maine's infrastructure while at the same time benefitting local communities through increased economic activity," said Michaud.
Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton -- $700,000 -- This project is funded through the Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program, which supports grants and research to investigate and address the relationship among transportation, community, and system preservation plans and practices and identify private sector-based initiatives to improve those relationships. TCSP funds will be used to develop final design and construction documents for an intermodal facility at the Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton.
Littlefield Bridge in Auburn -- $580,000 -- This project is funded through the Highways for LIFE (HfL) Pilot Program, which was established to advance longer-lasting highways using innovative technologies and practices to accomplish the fast construction of efficient and safe highways and bridges. The Maine Department of Transportation will use integral precast deck panels that include corrosion resistant composite or stainless steel reinforcing bars to prolong the bridge life.
Boundary Bridge in Bridgewater -- $300,000 -- This project is funded through the Innovative Bridge Research and Deployment (IBRD) Program, which was established to promote the application of innovative designs, materials, and construction methods in constructing and rehabilitating bridges and other highway structures. The Maine Department of Transportation proposes to replace the Boundary Bridge, which was constructed in 1933, with a 110-foot span using prefabricated bridge elements, an accelerated system that will shorten the overall construction time. Because this bridge accommodates border-crossing traffic between New Brunswick, Canada, and Maine, the shorter construction time will benefit the trucking industry and the traveling public by reducing user costs, delay, and inconvenience.
Old Canada Road Corridor -- $54,048 -- This project is funded through the National Scenic Byways Program, which provides funding to projects that manage and protect outstanding scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological qualities along byways and improve visitor facilities. This project will update and revise the 1999 Corridor Management Plan for the Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway. Development of the plan will reposition the byway as a key tourism development asset within the Upper Kennebec River/Northern Somerset County destination area, revitalize the byway support group, and build a broad support network for the byway enterprise across a range of stakeholders.
Schoodic National Scenic Byway Rest Areas and Turnouts -- $45,940 -- This project, also funded through the National Scenic Byways Program, will enhance seven rest areas and scenic turnouts on the Schoodic National Scenic Byway, which is located on US Route 1 and Route 186 and includes the towns of Hancock, Sullivan, Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor. These areas will receive new interpretive panels. Thematic interpretive activities such as archaeological digs, granite mines, lobster boats, and lighthouses will complement signage about nature, history, and Downeast culture.
Grindstone Scenic Byway Gateway Visitor Facilities -- $386,560 -- This project, also funded through the National Scenic Byways Program, will create five gateway visitor center facilities at the key entry points to the byway to provide traveler amenities and interpretive information. This project will benefit the byway traveler by providing essential information at key locations. The traveler will be greeted with information about the byway, its route, public safety information, general information about the area, and an overview of the recreational, historic, and cultural assets of the byway.
Robyville Covered Bridge in Corinth -- $160,000 -- This project meets the eligibility requirements of the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and was selected because it is the state's highest priority. It will preserve the bridge, keeping this historic structure in a state of good repair allowing it to continue to carry vehicular traffic. The Robyville Covered Bridge will be preserved through the installation of scour countermeasures and repair of the wingwalls.
Black Woods Byway Corridor -- $22,000 -- This project, funded through the National Scenic Byways Program, will update and enhance the 2005 corridor management plan for the Black Woods Scenic Byway. The updated plan will include detailed interpretive and sustainability plans. This project benefits the byway traveler by establishing a new framework for visitor experiences to take full advantage of our new scenic, recreational and cultural facilities.
Pit Trail in the Indian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation -- $112,400 -- This project is funded through the Public Lands Highway Discretionary program, which provides funding for highways, roads and parkways within or providing access to Indian reservations and Federal public lands, including national parks, refuges, forests, recreation areas, and grasslands. This project will prepare plans, specifications and an estimate for the design of the Pit Trail, a pedestrian bicycle pathway that will connect the two most densely populated areas of the Indian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation. The design plans will include survey, right-of-way documents, environmental review, and archeological review. Project deliverables will include plans, specifications and cost estimates stamped by a licensed professional engineer.
Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway Corridor -- $34,800 -- This project, funded through the National Scenic Byways Program, will update and revise the 2000 corridor management plan to set the groundwork for new byway projects and activities that have a positive impact on the local economy and protect the byway's intrinsic values and assets.
