“They came and listened to what we had to say. Now we have to wait and see what they decide.” That’s how David King Sr., chairman of the Woolwich select board, summed up a 90-minute meeting with Maine Department of Transportation officials Friday, April 9.

At issue is $900,000 in proposed improvements to two intersections on Nequasset Road that may include a Route 1 traffic signal. Between the intersections are the municipal building, fire station, Nequasset Meeting House and a 19th century home housing the town’s historical society and farmhouse museum.

“There are times when it can be a pretty busy road,” said King. He added, when there are meetings at the municipal building or across the street at the meetinghouse, people park their vehicles on both sides of the road. “We suggested they consider changing their plans at the bottom of the hill, the intersection with the George Wright Road. Our idea was to move the turning area a little further north, closer to the newly installed pump station. As it is now, it’s a pretty sharp turn for traffic and runs uphill from there.”

Where Nequasset Road intersects with Route 1, MDOT is planning to widen the road adding turning lanes and a traffic light during the planned construction of the new Station 46 bridge. The state will close the southern end of George Wright Road during the bridge construction. “They told us, they’re going to erect a temporary bridge on Route 1 on the same side of the highway as the Taste of Maine Restaurant,” said King.

If the southern end of George Wright Road closes permanently, the select board wants to build a new access road to Route 1. In November, voters approved a land buy to accommodate the new road but the state has not approved the plan. The road would come out on Route 1 near Kennebec Rental.

“They told us a new road would have to be one-way with traffic coming off of Route 1, but could be open to two-way traffic in an emergency situation,” explained King. “Whether we build the road depends on what MDOT ultimately decides to do at the lower end of the George Wright Road.”

Selectman Dale Chadbourne called it a good meeting. “We had most of the select board there along with the fire chief and road commissioner. What happens next? I can’t say. To their credit, they came and were willing to listen to our concerns, hear our suggestions. They promised to get back with us, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” he told Wiscasset Newspaper.

“We didn’t get a definitive answer on the traffic light – whether it would be temporary or become permanent,” continued Chadbourne. “They did tell us, the fire department will have control over the light during an emergency and that will make it safer for our first responders.”

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw said he is concerned about the town-owned bridge at the lower end of George Wright Road. Just past the bridge, the road links up with Route 1. “We need a decision from them because if they plan to keep the road open to Route 1 at that end, something has to be done about the bridge which is owned by the town.” If the state closes off the road, the bridge can be closed to traffic.

“This was why we wanted to build the new exit road further up on the George Wright Road,” added Shaw.

Near the southern end of George Wright Road, MDOT plans to raise the elevation of Route 1 about five feet and erect an 85-foot span to facilitate tidal flow of a salt marsh. The state also plans to replace the Station 46 bridge on Route 1, for an estimated $30 million. The projects are still in the design phase and slated to begin in 2022.