BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor City Council’s finance committee unanimously approved — and recommended full council approval of — a bid by Maine Earth of Hampden to build a quarter-mile paved and lighted pathway along the waterfront.
“This provides a very nice walking trail from the arena to the waterfront when it’s finished,” said Bangor City Engineer Art Morgan.
The project, which Morgan says could begin as early as November, will cost an estimated $390,307 and involve the paving of a quarter-mile-long, 10-foot-wide hiking, running, biking and rollerblading path. The path runs from the Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway and eventually splits and arcs off to encircle an elliptical, eye-shaped area before reconnecting and continuing on to the parking lot near the intersection of Railroad and Front streets, and near the Sea Dog Brewing Co.
Four companies submitted bids for the project. Maine Earth’s was the lowest of the bids, which ranged up to $538,727.
The full council can vote to approve the bid as early as Monday, Aug. 27. If work begins before winter, Morgan said it could be finished as early as next spring.
The pathway system will also involve the installation of 29 additional 16-feet-high, aluminum lights spaced 110 feet apart.
“One thing it does is give you a nice walk from Cross Insurance Center, Hollywood Casino and down the waterfront to places like the Sea Dog, the downtown area, and the parking garage, West Market Square, and all that area,” Morgan said.
This is the latest development in a decades-long plan to develop Bangor’s waterfront.
“We started batting this idea around in the late ’80s,” Morgan said. “The [oil] tank farms had been removed, but you couldn’t walk down along the river for fear of falling into a hole you couldn’t get out of.”
Morgan said it wasn’t that long ago that the area much of the path will occupy was undeveloped and unknown to the general public, with only the occasional person or small group venturing there to eat their lunches.
The National Folk Festival, and later the American Folk Festival, changed that.
“Now that it’s been improved and developed, people are wowed by it. It’s a growing, vibrant place,” Morgan said. “It’s an evolutionary process that’s changed a couple times since 2001 from what we initially wanted and thought our priorities were.”
Morgan said there are other wrinkles to follow — pending budgetary and council approval — such as an amphitheater.
“It’s a later phase, but when it’s developed, it will have a capacity of 3,500, so it’ll be smaller than the Waterfront Concerts pavilion,” he said. “It will basically be a naturally sloped amphitheater.”
Excellent vision is in the works. This will really tie in all things great for the Waterfront and Bangor. It will be much more inviting to walk through this area at night and a growing entertainment sector will surround that ideal. Things are really looking good to those of us (majority) that support the positive changes that have happened so far. Now, let’s invest the savings from the Arena as well and get that Waterfront Concerts Pavilion up and ready for the tens of thousands who will be coming for all Bangor has to offer. Waterfront shows, American Folk Festival, KahBang, Casino entertainment, harness racing, shopping, Cross Insurance Event Center Shows, dining, relaxing, hiking, etc. etc. Off topic: Does anyone know what happened to Fish House Grill moving in on the waterfront? And where are the ice cream parlors? Not one on Main St.
Fish House Grill, ice cream place and Tim Hortons now there is some high paying jobs in the city of Bangor.
Mama Bear- Wrong topic here. This is about the Waterfront and the lighted trails. Yes, there are some people making good wages in the Bangor area. Not everyone has a high paying job… but when you create a destination it brings business eventually. And don’t kid yourself, the high paying jobs have moved to China and Mexico because corporations don’t like to pay (high) wages. Where you been?
doesn’t quite get to the Cross Insurance Center
Nice project and the hill needs a stage at the bottom build it and people will want to use it great area to take a walk! Nice job Art and great vision 2o years ago
Now, how about a narrow strip where we can launch our canoes, kayaks, and small boats. It’s tough trying to launch at the indicated site because of concert activity. Under the Chamberlain Bridge would be an excellent location.
Where is the funding for this project coming from? Federal grant? Tax increase next year? Slight tax increase this year? The “income” to the city from waterfront concerts? Inquiring minds would like to know!
Great, Bangor has miles and miles of crumbled up sidewalks and potholes in the streets and the council wants to blow $400,000 on a lighted walkway at the waterfront. To heck with making the walks safe to take a walk, go build a lighted walkway on the waterfront for who?