Naples, Casco and Poland are scheduled to receive approximately $6.2 million in road and bridgework over the next two fiscal years. The Maine Department of Transportation is calling for 12 projects, ranging $48,000 to $2.5 million in the area.

The projects are listed in the Biennial Capital Work Plan produced by the Maine DOT for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. For the state as a whole, the Maine DOT plans to reconstruct 85 bridges and 158 miles of arterial and “collector” highways. It also plans to apply pavement preservation treatments – resurfacing – to 520 miles of Maine highways. Other priority infrastructure projects involve air transportation, ferry service, highway mass transit, passenger rail and bike trails.

Rep. Rich Cebra, whose legislative district includes Naples, Casco and part of Poland, said the highway plan hinges on state and federal financing that has yet to be firmed up. The state is counting on federal funds to cover 65 percent of a total transportation investment of $648 million during the coming two fiscal years.

A huge highway bill is now moving through Congress, but faces a possible presidential veto. Maine’s bond issue won’t go to the voters until November. Governor Baldacci has requested $38 million in transportation bonds, but the final size of the transportation bond package has not yet been set and could change.

The largest project is a $2.5 million highway reconstruction of a half-mile of Route 26 in Poland. The second largest – $1.85 million – would replace the Naples Bay Bridge over Chutes River on Route 302. Local residents may also notice resurfacing of seven miles of Route 302 in Naples and Bridgton, an $800,000 item. The smallest of the 12 projects, at $48,100, involves maintenance paving of Songo Locks Bridge in Naples on State Park Road.

“We’re looking forward to getting some of this work under way,” Rep. Cebra said. “It will create some good jobs and improve driving conditions in the area.”

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