“All of our questions were answered. What their responsibilities are and what ours are,” said David King Sr., chairman of the Woolwich selectboard following a meeting last week with Maine Department of Transportation officials.The meeting held Wednesday morning, Jan. 11 at the town office was to discuss the planned reconfiguration of the Nequasset and George Wright roads intersection.

Doug Coombs, a MaineDOT senior highway project manager, reviewed plans that include widening the intersection and replacing the temporary traffic signal on Route One with a new light. MaineDOT representatives Matt Philbrick and Terry Blair Jr. accompanied Coombs.

“They told us they plan to put the project out to bid in August 2025 and start the work hopefully in the fall,” said King. “Besides the work on the road they want to replace the traffic signal that’s there now with a ‘smart light’ adaptable to the traffic flow. The one there now activates whenever a car pulls up on either side of the intersection. The new one will be programmable.”

The selectboard asked for the meeting to review the project. The work includes lowering the grade of Nequasset Road as it approaches the municipal building to improve visibility and widening the George Wright Road intersection. In preparation for this project, the town has removed several trees, and will relocate the drainage field for the municipal building this spring.  

In an email to Wiscasset Newspaper, Selectman Tommy Davis wrote MaineDOT’s plan for making “a more gradual curve to (the) northbound side of George Wright Road will “definitely be an improvement, especially for larger trucks and emergency vehicles.” Davis noted the selectboard walked the site with the MaineDOT officials to better understand the planned changes. Selectmen Jason Shaw and Dale Chadbourne were also at  the meeting. Selectman Allison Hepler, state representative for House District 49, was in Augusta on legislative business and unable to attend.

In the meantime, on Route One just north of Taste of Maine Restaurant, construction continues on the Station 46 Bridge Project. As previously reported by MaineDOT, the new bridge could be open to traffic in August. Work will then begin on a planned second bridge that involves raising portions of the Route One roadway up to five feet. This spring, Bath Water District will continue the installation of a new water main on the western side of Nequasset Road and Route 127 (Middle Road). Work on that project will be completed later this year.