A committee made up of representatives from Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, and Edgecomb hired the firm to work with the Maine Department of Transportation to identify what is needed in land use zoning and ordinances in each of the three towns.

The committee developed a series of recommendations that fall into three categories.

The first category consists of changes to land use and development of policies that can be implemented through amendments to land use ordinances in each of the three towns.

The second are general improvements to the operation of safety of Route 27 that would be implemented by either the Maine Department of Transportation of the local municipality.

The final category consists of the recommended improvements to the specific problem areas that were the primary focus of the community workshops.

As a result of the two community workshops the following specific problem areas were identified.

Route 1-Route 27 Intersection: The committee recommends that the Route 1-Route 27 intersections be modified in conjunction with the Wiscasset bypass project, recognizing the bypass project will not be implemented in the short term.

In the interim, the committee recommends the existing second southbound lane be extended through the entire intersection to permit safer left turns from Route 27 on to Route 1.

Cross Road-Route 27 Intersections: The existing intersection of Cross Road and Route 27 should be realigned by eliminating the traffic island and constructing a "T" intersection.

"As part of this project, consideration should be given to the construction of a secondary driveway into the Post Office to accommodate traffic from the south, subject to the results of a detailed survey of existing topographic conditions," the report said

Entrance To The New Edgecomb Eddy School: "The recently constructed entrance drive to the new school appears to have a sightline and stopping sight distance problem associated with the posted speed off Route 27. The committee recommends the school building committee retain a traffic engineer to recommend specific improvements for this intersection."

Boothbay Common

Among the improvements recommended for the Boothbay Common are:

Construction of a roundabout with the Civil War Monument in the center of the intersection of Back River Road and Route 27;

Realigning the intersection of Back River Road and Corey Lane, however, the Knight-Corey House would be retained;

Converting Common Drive into a one-way street in an easterly and northerly direction and installing diagonal parking on both sides where the width of the right of way is sufficient;

Installing sidewalks and pedestrian crosswalks at strategic locations;

Realigning the Chapel Street-Route 27 intersection.

In addition to the public improvements described above, the town should work with the property owners in the vicinity of the Common to expand off-street parking opportunities commensurate with the redevelopment and reuse of the non-residential properties. Part of this effort should include the realignment of the curb cuts at the Texaco.

The Meadow: The committee recommends the improvements should include:

Undertaking a streetscape improvement program to include the installation of sidewalks within the street right-of-way throughout the area, the planting of trees and shrubbery, construction of crosswalks at strategic location, and the installation of pedestrian lighting. Consideration should be given to the installation of turning lanes at critical intersections.

Installations of a crosswalk and turn lane at the driveway to the high school and the YMCA.

Town officials in the three towns involved will review the final report of the study, and make recommendations. The committee began their work in August 2001. Their work was funded by a grant of $24,000 from the state planning office, with $10,000 matching funds from local communities.

Lincoln County Planner Robert Faunce, MDOT representative Mike Hoover, assisted the committee in the study.