PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Work continues on sections of Main and Academy streets, as the Presque Isle Water and Sewer District makes progress on replacing water and sewer mains along Route 1 through downtown, while the Maine Department of Transportation makes upgrades along Academy.
“Work began on Academy Street on Aug. 4. We’re now three weeks into the project. We’re probably a little less than half done. We anticipate completion will be around early October,” said Robert Watson, MDOT regional director.
Watson said work is on schedule.
“We’re on schedule for what we expected. Everything’s going very well so far,” he said. “Everyone’s pleased the work’s getting done. People traveling through have been patient and understand the flaggers’ directions. Drivers expect delays and have been cooperative.”
Just over a mile of road is being re-paved on Academy, noted Watson.
“We aren’t detouring traffic. We’re able to control it with flaggers. Traffic has been flowing well. Most recently we’ve been working on the drainage portion of the project. The underground drainage is an older system and needed to be replaced,” said Watson.
‘Before the project began, we had a contractor run a camera through the whole system. Instead of replacing the whole thing, this enabled us to replace only the portions that truly needed replacement,” said Watson.
Watson said after Labor Day work will begin on removing the surface and putting a new surface down.
“Lane Construction is the primary contractor. We have a contract with Lane, and they subcontract with others, like Soderberg’s,” said Watson.
At Monday night’s City Council meeting, Councilor Craig Green advised those traveling through Presque Isle to “relax — it will be fixed.”
“We’re employing local people from the community. My congratulations go out to the contractors. They’re doing an excellent job,” said Green. “Just slow down — go 25 mph or less.”
Watson noted that this year’s project on Main Street is solely being done by the Water and Sewer District.
“The work on Main Street is strictly through the city department, with the city planning to temporarily pave over once the water and sewer mains are replaced. DOT plans to re-pave Route 1 through Presque Isle next year,” said Watson.
