Discussions of Wiscasset’s downtown project between Maine Department of Transportation engineers and the Public Advisory Committee continue June 12 and 27. Both meetings are at 5 p.m. at the municipal building.

Project Engineer Ernie Martin met with committee members for an hour May 30 to share feedback from a May 8 public meeting. There was agreement that a need was expressed several times for providing more handicap parking closer to Main Street, in addition to Middle and Water streets.

As a whole, members felt the May 8 meeting had been very informative and supportive of the project. Concerns continue to focus on the loss of Main Street parking, the removal of the Haggett building and a need for MDOT to address traffic concerns at the intersection of Federal and Main where the post office is.

Martin said MDOT was taking a second look at the Federal Street intersection and may consider installing a “rapid flash” beacon at the crosswalk. MDOT has ruled out adding a traffic signal there. Traffic signals are planned at the Main Street intersections of Middle and Water streets. Another fully functioning traffic light was installed in 2016 at the intersection of routes One and 27.

Another change under consideration is widening the parking area at the upper end of Railroad Avenue. Martin said this might be done to better accommodate parking for staff of Wiscasset Family Medicine.

Martin said the June meetings will be to review signage and begin the dialogue on landscape and aesthetic elements including lighting and materials used in sidewalk construction. As decisions are made, the planned aesthetic features will be added to a new artist’s rendition of the project, he added.

In response to an email from the Wiscasset Newspaper, Martin wrote the project will be carried out in three phases beginning in 2018. Phase I includes the demolition of the former Haggett Garage and construction of the parking lot there. Phase II involves reconstruction of Railroad Avenue and parking. Phase III is reconstruction of Main Street and sidewalks followed by installation of traffic signals and pedestrian lights.

Martin said the project’s anticipated completion date is the spring 2019. “We’ll get a better handle on the proposed schedule in the upcoming months,” he wrote.