WARREN, Maine — The Maine Department of Transportation acknowledged the plan for a roundabout at the intersection of Route 90 and Western Road is a done deal.
Two state transportation officials met Wednesday evening with town officials and about 40 people who turned out at the fire station to hear the presentation.
Martin Rooney, a senior project manager for the Department of Transportation, said roundabouts have been shown to reduce crashes by about half and injuries by 70%.
The roundabout is needed because of the history of crashes, including three fatal crashes since 2000, including one on Aug. 2, 2026. Rooney said the Warren intersection is considered one of the five most dangerous intersections in the state.
One of the reasons is because the speed limit is 50 mph on this stretch of Route 90, he said.
Some residents suggested lowering the speed limit, but the transportation official said speed signs are not that effective in reducing speeds. The roundabout design reduces speeds.
The town will be responsible for the electricity to power the 10 lights that will light up the roundabout during the night. The town also will be responsible for maintenance of the lights and perhaps, watering the landscaping in the inner circle of the roundabout.
The cost to the town is estimated at $2,000 to $3,000 annually.
Select Board member Wayne Luce said when this was first proposed in 2022, there was no mention that the town would be responsible for maintenance costs.
Bids will be solicited in the fall and the award of a bid by year’s end. Construction is expected to begin in March or April 2027 and be completed in September or October of that year.
The cost is estimated at $3.4 million with the federal government picking up 90% of the costs and the state 10%.
For nearly 20 years, the state has proposed remedies for the intersection. Previously, the state had proposed a traffic signal but has since determined a roundabout will be far more effective in reducing crashes.
The most recent serious crash at the intersection was Aug. 2 when 19-year-old Churchill Burwell of New Haven, Connecticut, died when he pulled out onto Route 90 from the north side of Western Road and collided with an eastbound car traveling on Route 90. Burwell died at the scene of the crash. The young man’s family owns property locally and spends summers in Knox County.
Maine Department of Transportation crash statistics show that 11 crashes occurred at the intersection from 2023 through 2025. A combined 16 people were injured in those crashes. There were 30 crashes from 2014 through 2021.
In 2010, the Select Board did not support a plan for a traffic light to be installed. And in April 2013, the Select Board voted 4-1 not to enter into an agreement with the state to install a traffic signal at the intersection because there was no information on the cost to the town.
The roundabout will be wider than the intersection and will necessitate taking abutting land but no buildings. One driveway will be relocated. Most of the project will be within the state’s right of way, Rooney said.
One woman, who lives on the Western Road, said the roundabout is a great idea.
Town officials noted that even though there was a meeting in 2022, it would have been preferable if the state had held in-person public hearings, rather than online ones, once the specific project was developed.
Route 90 will remain open during construction of the roundabout with much of the work being done in the evening. There will be alternating lane traffic on the Western Road during the construction.
Parking Ordinance
At that meeting, the Select Board also voted 5-0 for a parking ordinance. The ordinance would cover municipal lots including the one downtown along the river.
Paving is ongoing at the downtown lot which will have up to 50 spaces.
The town is working to encourage development downtown. The two main draws now are the library and a pizza shop.
The town will issue up to 10 permits for overnight parking for residents who live near the lot who do not have on-site parking.
Town Manager Sherry Howard noted the lot has been filled when there are town events, such as one last month by the historical society.
Parking is free, and the town is not charging for the overnight parking permits.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.