Bill to increase truck-weight limits
becomes law
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A bill sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) that could lead to the creation of approximately 50 new jobs in Ashland has become law.
The law directs officials with the state’s Department of Transportation to examine ways to safely allow increased truck capacities from the Realty Road to the old Levesque mill site in Ashland. The former stud mill site now has new owners, E.J. Carrier Inc., and this change will make it easier for them to do business.
The law also applies to a similar stretch of road connected to the Fraser mill in Masardis.
“This law has great potential to create up to 50 new jobs,” said Sen. Jackson. “Ashland is a logging town that has seen this type of trucking before and understands the benefits.”
The routes designated in the bill will serve as a test case — if determined to be successful, other mills in the state could see similar truck-weight increases put into effect in their regions.
A portion of the bill reads as follows: “Designation of routes: the demonstration projects may be conducted over the two following routes, both of which are less than two miles in length and connect forest harvesting sites and private logging roads to forest products processing and transportation facilities.”
“Ashland’s route is approximately 1.9 miles in total length, with 0.9 miles on state or state aid highways, starting from a private logging road system in the community, then southeast on the Realty Road to the Garfield Road, then east on the Garfield Road to state Route 11, then east on Route 11 over the bridge crossing the Aroostook River designated by the Department of Transportation as bridge number 3554 and continuing on Route 11 to the Clark Siding Road, and then on the Clark Siding Road to and along the former Levesque Mill, so-called,” states the bill.
Similar guidelines apply to the Masardis route.
“The Masardis route is approximately 1.9 miles in length, with 1.6 miles on state or state aid highways, starting at the intersection of the Craig Road and the Craigville Road, the latter being part of a private logging road system, then north on the Craig Road to the Garfield Road, and then east on the Garfield Road and over the bridge crossing the Aroostook River designated by the DOT as bridge number 3407 to the south entrance to the Fraser Mill, so-called,” the bill states.
This change will allow significantly larger loads, up to 200,000 pounds, to travel this route. Trucks of this size have traveled the Garfield Road before but this change would allow the heavier trucks to cross a particular bridge in question, and then turn into the (Ashland) mill’s back entrance. A route about eight-tenths of a mile in length would be affected.
“We want to make sure that the roads remain safe no matter what,” said Jackson. “I believe any fears can be alleviated by the town and the DOT working together. I am pleased that my legislative colleagues as well as the Department supported this important bill.”
The bill requires both mill owners to pay at least 50 percent of the costs. DOT officials have already approved access to the Ashland bridge. Discussion of access to the Masardis facility arose during a meeting in Ashland about a month ago when town and state officials met with community members to discuss how increasing truck weight limits would affect the community.
“DOT has given a preliminary look at the bridge in question (in Masardis) and say it looks good,” said Marc Malon, legislative aide, Maine Senate Majority Office, “but nothing will happen until a thorough review is completed and the chief engineer at DOT signs off.”
Town Manager Ralph Dwyer said he’s pleased with the outcome.
“I went to Augusta with others to testify before the committee and am very happy to see the bill pass,” said Dwyer. “This will make it more attractive to forest product businesses to do business here. This will make it easier to get raw product to the mills in a more efficient manner.”
Dwyer said details on when Carrier plans to open have not been released.
“Carrier officials wanted to see how the bill made out. Now that it’s passed, the company will make their plans accordingly,” said Dwyer.
