The R.O.A.D. group (Route One Alternative Decisions) met formally December 11 and discussed its long- term plans for improving the Wiscasset traffic flow, without a by-pass.

The organization's Web site, www.wiscasset-road.org will be a credible repository of documents about the Wiscasset traffic problem and alternative solutions. Finding and scanning all the reports and documents over the past 50 years will take months, but R.O.A.D. plans a long-term campaign.

One initial effort by the group will be a letter to the Selectmen of Wiscasset and neighboring towns and the Lincoln County Commissioners asking for their support for three projects to be performed by the Maine Dept. of Transportation.

The three projects are:

1. Planting a digital traffic counter for traffic at the Davey Bridge;

2. Installation of Webcams at each end of the Wiscasset "slow zone," together with a Maine DOT 511-compatible vehicle detection system and;

3. The development of alternative plans for a pedestrian tunnel or bridge near the intersection of the railroad and/or Water Street and Route 1.

Frank Risell of Wiscasset and Morrison Bonpasse of Newcastle agreed to serve as Acting Co-Chairs of the group until more formal elections can be held and/or until others step forward with an interest in taking on this long-term work.

It was noted that the average speed limit of the 2.6 mile "slow zone" from the NAPA store to the Edgecomb Route 1/27 exchange is 39 mph. At that speed, the trip takes four minutes. It's R.O.A.D.'s goal to bring year-round traffic flow up to that speed. In addition to addressing the current MDOT by-pass review process, the group expects to promote changes along the existing Route 1 road to be included in the 2009 MDOT resurfacing project.

The group discussed four "fundamental truths" which will guide its future work:

1. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

2. In the long term, there will�be only�one Wiscasset bridge over the Sheepscot River. If a second bridge is built for a bypass, the Davey Bridge will be doomed. If a bypass must be built, it should connect to the Davey Bridge.

3. From the Kennebec River in Woolwich to the St. Croix River in Calais, Route 1 is a two-lane road with several "slow zones" through cities and towns including Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset and Thomaston.

4. The Wiscasset traffic flow problem is primarily a seasonal, summer, problem occurring a few hours a day, a few days a week, a few months a year.