ROCKLAND, Maine — Plans to redesign and rebuild portions of a busy stretch of Route 1 in the city would cost more than $4 million, according to engineers hired by the city.
But Rockland Mayor Frank Isganitis cautioned the city has no plans to spend that type of money any time soon.
Traffic engineers from Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers of Gray unveiled plans Monday evening that include rebuilding some of Camden Street, sidewalks on both sides of the street, curbing, median strips, landscaping and a roundabout to replace the intersection at Waldo Avenue.
The decision to study the street started three years ago, when Wal-Mart announced plans to relocate to Thomaston. The Thomaston Wal-Mart opened in October 2013, and Ocean State Job Lot opened in part of the former Wal-Mart in Rockland.
Interim City Manager Tom Luttrell said Tuesday the idea behind the study is to spruce up the roadway, revitalize Camden Street and attract new development.
The most expensive part of the work on Camden Street in the plans unveiled Monday evening involves the construction of a roundabout, which would cost an estimated $1.2 million. Gorrill Palmer engineers said roundabouts are designed to slow traffic and improve the flow better than a traffic light.
The roundabout likely would require acquiring land to construct the 160-foot-wide system.
Councilor William Clayton said he was concerned the roundabout would not allow for easy passage of large vehicles carrying boats, pointing out that Rockland is a marine community. He also voiced concern about pedestrian traffic.
Mayor Isganitis said the plans offer a guide to future development.
“I want to assure residents that the council is not considering authorizing spending $4.1 million any time in the near future,” Isganitis said.
Isganitis said the plan could be implemented over time and the costs offset by future development.
The city received a $25,000 state transportation grant and is matching that dollar for dollar to pay for the study. Gorrill Palmer bid $54,000 for the multi-phase study, but Luttrell said the work thus far has not come close to the $50,000 budget. The city has not received a first bill from the company.
Councilors will meet later in the year to discuss what parts of the plan they want to proceed, but no date was set.