On March 20, Wiscasset Town Planner Misty Parker and Route 1 Master Plan steering committee representatives gave a presentation to an audience of Wiscasset residents, business owners and others.

The presentation identified possible traffic improvements along the Route 1 corridor. The corridor extends approximately four miles from Woolwich town line to the north end of Flood Avenue.

Consultants Thomas Errico, a traffic engineer with Ty Lin International, and Mitchell Rasor, went over the project goals, the challenges of Wiscasset’s Route 1, what could be done for better access management, and what could be done to improve intersections along the route. 

Also, Errico and Rasor offered a future analysis of traffic and economic growth for the town of Wiscasset between now and 2030.

From the beginning of the presentation, Errico told the members of the public, the representatives from MDOT, the town, and the consultants that they were there to listen to comments and suggestions from the public. “We want to hear your comments and suggestions; we want to know if you think we are on the right track,” Errico said.

The town faces a number of challenges, which oftentimes becomes a barrier to economic development, according to Errico. Intersections operating at a near failing level of service present a challenge to medium to large scale businesses looking to develop.

Errico described failing intersections on Route 1, rating the interactions on current levels of service from “A” to “F” with “A” being free flow, and “F” being over capacity. He pointed to the level of service for the following intersections: Shaw’s Supermarket intersection (F); Route 144 (E); Old Bath Road South (D); Old Bath Road North, (F), and the Birch Road intersection (E).

According to the consultants, the intersections on Route 1 are currently near or beyond capacity; and increased development will create a more complex permitting process.

Errico went over the steps that could be taken to improve the intersections that would improve the level of service:

Shaw’s Supermarket intersection could be brought up to a B

• Installing a traffic signal with an abutting connection
• Formalize left and right hand lanes at the Marketplace
• Single through-lanes

Route 144 and Route 1 intersection could be brought up to B

• Installing a traffic signal
• Dedicate left-lane on southbound Route 1
• Formalize left and right lanes on Route 144
• Single through-lane

Birch Point Road, Route 1 intersection could be brought to a C

• Provide left and right hand lanes on Birch Point Road
• Provide dedicated left and right lanes on Route 1
• Signalization (may not be warranted)
• Single through lanes

Old Bath Road North future needs

• Provide left and right lanes on Route 1
• Provide dedicated left-hand lane on Route 1
• Single through-lanes
• Left turns from the old Bath Road will be poor and traffic signals not warranted

Old Bath Road South future needs

• Provide left and right lanes on Old Bath Road
• Provide dedicated left-turn lane on Route 1
• Single through lanes

Left-lanes from Old Bath Road will be poor but low volume.

Other areas of improvement on Route 1 being recommended are: connector roads from one business to the other off Route 1; back roads connecting to Route 1 businesses; and a turning lane down the center of Route 1 in most locations.

Forecast for future traffic and economic growth

According to Errico, future forecasts extending out into 2030, employment growth will increase in Wiscasset by 1,190 jobs and residential growth will increase by 250 units. His assumptions are based on a build out of Wiscasset Industrial Park, a development at Mason Station, office, warehouse and manufacturing space along Route 1.

For the Route 1 corridor the traffic model assumes the following by 2030, according to Errico, 100,000 square feet of office, warehouse and manufacturing space; 50,000 square feet of retail, and 60 residential units.

Rasor outlined the different character areas along the 4 mile route, including: new development in the area of McDonalds and Monkey C Monkey Do; Strip development at the Market Place; traditional roadside development at the former Huber’s Market and Ship’s Chow Hall; and residential development coming south after the Wiscasset Ford. He also indicated there are areas on Route 1 that would be good for further development.

Public comments

The comments from the public were in most part positive. Wiscasset business owner Robert Rogers asked if there couldn’t be something put in place before 2030. “George Green, and myself, are probably the oldest business owners on Route 1. We would like to see some of the changes,” Rogers said with a chuckle, which brought smiles to the faces of most everyone there.

Rogers has had a business on Route 1 since the early 70’s, the Miss Wiscasset Diner, and the currently owns the Wiscasset Trading Post. Green has owned and operated “North of the Border” since the mid-1970s.

Lincoln County Planner Robert Faunce pointed out the Mason Station parcel of land, which was alluded to as a possible development site, is the largest parcel of land in county that could be used for development.

Owner of Avalon Antiques, William Belmore, asked about adding a third lane turning lane along the 4-mile stretch. He was told it was in the plan.

Wiscasset resident Anne Leslie said she was pleased that the character of the town is being considered in the study.

Next steps

Errico told the group that the next steps were to take back the comments he had heard from members of the public to the draft plan, identify financing opinions. However, cautioning, that some recommendation may be more costly than others, the master plan will also provide some estimates, financing opportunities and other considerations.

There will be another public meeting before finalizing the final plan, which, according to Errico, should be completed sometime this summer.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4632 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.