Citing a series of serious motor vehicle accidents, Woolwich officials have requested that Maine Department of Transportation undertake a safety audit of Route One. The selectboard organized a recent workshop to address roadway safety concerns seeking input from Road Commissioner Jack Shaw, Fire Chief Shaun Merrill, EMS Director Danny Evarts and Sagadahoc County Chief Deputy Jason Warlick. 

“We organized this workshop because of an ongoing concern about the number of accidents that continue to happen here on Route One," commented Selectman Tommy Davis. The workshop’s primary objective Davis continued was to identify Route One safety challenges to share with highway officials as part of the town’s formal request for a Safety Audit. Discussions covered a range of safety improvement categories, including intersection safety, visibility improvements, speed management, signage, lighting enhancements, line striping and more.

The board hopes to schedule a face-to-face meeting with MaineDOT officials early in the new year. At the town's urging the state recently returned a rumble strip to the highway center line, to alert motorists when they’ve crossed into the oncoming traffic lane. Route One which runs from the Sagadohoc Bridge to the Wiscasset line is one of two state highways passing through Woolwich, the other being Route 127 running from the Cumberland Farms store to the Dresden line. 

The selectboard briefly discussed the matter Nov. 19. Selectboard Chairman David King Sr. hopes the meeting with MaineDOT can be held at the town office in January. Ultimately, it was up to the state, he said.

In another matter, Selectman Jason Shaw said Central Maine Power Co. had announced plans for replacing its utility poles on George Wright Road. No date for the work was announced.

In his monthly report,  Evarts told the selectboard the ambulance department had responded to nine calls so far in November. “Ten patients were seen, and nine were transported. MC1 and Wiscasset ambulance were each called once for assistance,” he wrote.  Evarts added multiple members of the department attended educational sessions during the first annual MaineHealth EMS Conference held Nov. 6, 7 and 8 and hosted by the city of Portland.

Road Commissioner Shaw said road repaving had been completed for the year adding he was quite pleased with the work carried out by Commercial Paving Company based in Augusta.

Selectmen unanimously approved an application to renew an “Adult Use" cannabis license for Landrace Canabis Company on Route One.

The town office will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving and be closed all day Friday after the holiday.