DOT Meets With Ellsworth Chamber to Discuss Road Projects

Ellsworth American May 2009

ELLSWORTH — You can’t get there from here and you won’t get anywhere here this summer.

While the state has several road projects proposed for Ellsworth to Mount Desert Island this summer, chamber members learned about two more proposed projects Tuesday at City Hall.

Martin spoke to about a dozen members of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and city officials.

In addition to the reconstruction of over six miles on Route 1A, (this is Bangor to Ellsworth) the improvements to the Bridge Hill intersection, the reconfiguration of the head of Mount Desert Island, the DOT intends to resurface the Bayside Road from Ellsworth to Trenton. (this is Ellsworth to Bar Harbor).

And, if voters in Trenton approve the Acadia Gateway Project, two miles of Route 3 in Trenton will be reconstructed.

“It’s going to be difficult, there’s just no way around it,” said Ernie Martin, DOT project manager.

City Manager Michelle Beal said when all the projects are finished, Ellsworth will have some of the best arterial roads in the state.

The DOT also intends to do maintenance work on the Bayside Road, repaving the roadway from Ellsworth to Trenton.

The Route 1A reconstruction projects, which start in July and August, begin at the bottom of McGowan’s Hill and extend to the Union River Bridge.

Jim's comment: The Bangor to Ellsworth construction will lead to more people getting to Ellsworth via rte. 3 to Belfast!