Ruth Indrick, project director for Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT), updated the Woolwich selectboard July 11 on changes planned for the lower end of George Wright Road. The multifaceted project which has been in the planning phase the past few years will be funded through a combination of grants totaling about $3.5 million.

The work includes removal of a small bridge and culvert, removal of a large earthen berm from the surface of the marsh, and moving a boat launch. A portion of the KELT funding will also be used for the installation of a new septic system for the municipal building and moving a fire hydrant on Nequasset Road.

Indrick told the selectboard she doesn’t have a timeline for when the George Wright Road project will begin. “The permitting process is getting underway and may take six months to complete,” she said. In September, Bath Water District plans to move its water main at the tidal channel, which needs to happen before the bridge can be removed.

In the next week or two, the selectboard will seek bids on the municipal building septic work and hydrant relocation requiring the contractor to have the work completed before the end of October. Indrick agreed to a request by Selectman Jason Shaw for KELT to provide the selectboard with a letter of intent stating the town will be reimbursed for this work from the grant monies.

The new boat ramp will be a short distance from the present one which has been closed during construction of the new Station 46 bridge. “It’s primarily been used for kayak and canoe launching because the cove is a protected area for sturgeon spawning,” Selectboard Chairman David King Sr. told Wiscasset Newspaper over the telephone prior to the meeting. “The only time boats with motors can be launched here is in the fall during duck hunting season.” A year ago, voters agreed to discontinue this portion of George Wright Road which formerly linked up with Route One. The area is part of the Robert DeWick Recreation Area and fronts Pleasant Cove where the state is building the new Station 46 bridge.

In an email to the newspaper, Indrick wrote, “The primary source of funding for the project(s) is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's National Coastal Resilience Fund. Additional funding is provided by the state of Maine's Stream Crossing Infrastructure Improvement Grant and The Nature Conservancy.”

Commenting to the newspaper after the meeting, Selectman Tommy Davis said, “This is a great project for our town since it not only improves the wetland habitat around the Route One causeway, but it also improves access to a public boat ramp. The minor changes to Nequasset Road at the George Wright Road intersection will also improve safety.” In an email to the newspaper, Selectman and Dist. 49 Rep. Allison Hepler wrote, “It's great to work with an organization like Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, which brings us a wealth of experience and resources. There are a lot of moving parts in a project like this. And it's exciting to see it all moving forward in a coordinated way.”

Maine Department of Transportation has promised to carry out a number of improvements to Nequasset Road in 2025. This portion of the road runs from George Wright Road to Route One passing by the municipal building and Nequasset Meeting House and cemetery. The work includes widening the George Wright Road intersection to improve the turning radius and lowering the road grade to improve driver visibility. MaineDOT also plans to replace the current Route One traffic light with a more efficient signal to regulate traffic flow. Improvements to Route One turning lanes at this intersection are also planned.

During the meeting, King asked Indrick if KELT might help in seeking funds to repair or replace a town-owned bulkhead fronting the Kennebec River. The wooden bulkhead at the end of Old Stage Road was built over a century ago and suffered extensive storm damage this past winter when the river swelled. “At one time it was used as a ferry landing, now it’s used by recreational boaters. Something’s got to be done about it, or we’re going to lose it,” King told the newspaper. Indrick agreed to see if there were grant monies the town might apply for.