Woolwich officials hope the state’s plans to repave the Middle Road section of Route 127 will include its shoulders.

The 15-mile stretch runs through the center of town from the junction of Route 1 by Cumberland Farms, north to Dresden and Route 27.  The busy state road also serves Arrowsic and Georgetown; repaving it is among the Maine Department of Transportation’s projects planned for 2018.

Selectman Allison Hepler said the town’s request is in response to numerous complaints from residents.

“Since they’re planning to repave it we thought now was a good time to see if they might address some of the concerns over the safety of road shoulders,” she said.

A letter drafted by Hepler and signed by the board and Road Commissioner Jack Shaw will go to MDOT this week.

“We’ve been contacted by drivers as well as bicyclists in recent months who are hoping that this repaving will include some paved shoulders. As you are doubtless aware, the dropoff from paved road to the gravel shoulder is dramatic and risky for automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles,” the letter states.

It continues, “You’ve shown yourselves to be ready listeners in the past by meeting with us,” and concludes by asking for a meeting with MDOT officials to discuss the town’s concerns.

Shaw supports the request but doubts the state will do anything more then repave the travel lanes.

“Route 127 is classified by the state as a secondary road and there’s only so much they’ll be willing to spend. There are sections of it where there’s very little road shoulder to work with and widening and paving these will be an expensive proposition.”

Still Shaw added there’s no harm in asking the state to address these concerns. “The problem is traffic throughout the area keeps increasing every year and monies needed for road repairs and maintenance aren’t keeping pace.”

In 2016, Shaw and the board convinced the state to include the shoulders when Route 1 was repaved.

Selectman Jason Shaw said the community welcomes any and all improvements to Route 127. “It’s busy throughout the day but the traffic’s heaviest in the early morning when people are going to work and after 3:30 when Bath Iron Works lets out.”

Selectman Shaw said the width of Route 127’s shoulders varies; some stretches have a good deal of room while others have only about two or three feet.

“The embankments are steep in places so if drivers aren’t paying attention or are unfamiliar with the road they could find themselves not just off the road but in a ditch,” he said.

He also plows for the town, including Route 127. He said some of the worst stretches of it are near the Dresden  line.

The road is posted at 45 mph through town except for about a half-mile section from Route 1 where the speed limit is 25 mph.

“People tend to go faster after a road is repaved which also adds to our concern,” Selectman Shaw continued.

MDOT also plans to repave 10.16 miles of Route 127 from the Sagadahoc Bridge in Woolwich through Arrowsic to Georgetown. The state will also seek bids for repainting the Nequasset Bridge on Route 1 in Woolwich:” The cost is estimated at $450,000.