Work on Caribou Connector slated to start in ’10

Work on Caribou Connector slated to start in ’10


By Jen Lynds
BDN Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — State and local officials from Aroostook County met with Gov. John Baldacci this week to discuss a plan to push forward with an Aroostook County transportation project.

During a meeting in his office Wednesday with stakeholders who will be affected by the project, Baldacci announced that he had instructed the Maine Department of Transportation to advance work on the Caribou Connector that is included in the Aroostook County Transportation Study so that construction can begin in 2010.

The project involves building a new controlled-access highway between Route 161 and U.S. Route 1 in Caribou to reduce travel time, enhance public safety and improve traffic flow in downtown Caribou. The new route will take the bulk of traffic around the downtown area.

The meeting was arranged by Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, and other members of the Aroostook County legislative delegation. State DOT Commissioner David Cole also was present, and town officials and civic leaders from Houlton, Fort Kent, Caribou and Presque Isle participated by telephone.

“It’s a start of the expansion of [Interstate] 95 north of Houlton, and it has to begin somewhere,” said Martin.

“This segment of the Aroostook County Transportation Study is ready to go forward, and the people of Aroostook County are eager for work to begin,” Baldacci said in a press release this week. “The Caribou Connector will play an important role in the infrastructure development planned in Aroostook County, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Maine legislators, congressional delegation and people of The County to improve the critical connections that will open up new opportunities in the region.”

The DOT will expedite construction of the Caribou Connector in the 2010 construction season using existing federal resources obtained by Maine’s congressional delegation, according to the press release.

The release indicated the DOT and the Federal Highway Administration received an alignment approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Sept. 18, 2008, for the Caribou segment. They still were awaiting a similar approval from the corps regarding the Presque Isle Bypass Segment. Planning work on the Presque Isle segment is expected to be complete by the 2011 construction season.

The two segments within the Caribou Connector are estimated to cost $20 million.

jlbdn@ainop.com

538-6567

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Comments
14 comments on this item

Just two little things then I'll be done on this article:

1. FIX THE ROAD BETWEEN GUILFORD AND MONSON - POTHOLES, WEAVES, CREASES AND DITCHES IN THE ROAD IS UNACCEPTABLE

2. BUILD THE BOAT LAUNCH IN DEXTER

With all the economic crisis across the country and our state; Is this really where we should be spending money? I'm a county boy. I've been riding these roads throughout my life. Just repair what we have. Ed Pelletier construction has done a great job on just about every road in the north that they've touched. Repair properly. Don't need new roads.

Jake you defininately want to stay a country boy . Without a good transportation system the County will never be anything but a backwater . NO HIGHWAY , NO DEVELOPMENT!!!!!

2010, hmmmm. That means that work should start on it around 2070, give or take a decade. In other words, don't hold your breath.

Does anyone know which alignment plan they decided upon? (i.e. 4B?)

My comet for now ,screw southern Maine.they have allways got both ends and the middle,but as for the reps. keeping the public posted on this project,they havent been above board,they have covered it up like all projects, they dont want the public to see until its a go,but if they even try to cut through my property,lead will fly.

SURE, BUILD THAT CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAY RIGHT TO ALLAGASH. AT LEAST WE WOULD HAVE A NEW ROAD TO TRAVEL TO WORK ON. OUR BUTTS DO NOT STAY ON THE SEAT AS IT IS!!!!!!!!

Why don't you funish 95 first, as stated by wallyo no highway no development. A simple Caribou bypass is a waste, For the Love of God who thought of this? Need jeans and don;t want to spend $40 a pair go to PI, need a coffee pot? Go to PI Seems Caribou is bypassed already.

Let's face it. 20 Million for the bypass is a drop in the buckeet and justa way for the Maine legistature to try to appease our County people. This way they don't have to confront the real issue of spending the money required to extend 95 to the Northern County. Now they can just say they gave us money for road expansion now they can build more tolls in Southern Maine to collect more money to spend in the South. Thanks for nothing Maine legislature.

Just what do we need to get connected to? What industry are we helping ? Is there a big business that employs a lot of people in Fort Kent that I don't know about? I know there is a lot of farmland thats not getting planted. People with no job stay home because they cannot afford the gas to run their vehicles with.

TOTAL WASTE OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY!! WORRY ABOUT THE MAIN ROADS GEES!!! GET A CLUE!!!

Wallyo......Part of what is great about this area is the fact that it is not a hustle and bustle life style. I travel as I can. The roads have never stopped me, or anyone else I know for that matter. I've lived in more developped areas with lots of roads, highways, and city dwellers. I'll take the backwater anyday.

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