Scarborough officials are looking for ideas from the public on how to improve the heavily traveled, 2-mile section of Gorham Road that connects Oak Hill to Payne Road in the heart of town.

This week, a public meeting was held to begin the preliminary design process for improvements, which would likely include better pedestrian and bicycle access, as well as better drainage and road resurfacing, according to Town Engineer Angela Blanchette.

The meeting, held at Town Hall, was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20, which was after the Current’s deadline.

The section of Gorham Road under consideration handles more than 10,000 vehicles a day. While for many it’s simply a way to get from Oak Hill to Payne Road, it also runs through various neighborhoods in town, said Blanchette.

“It’s not just a conduit, but part of a place,” she said.

Funding is not available for the project, but Blanchette said the town is “trying to plan ahead so that when this roadway is reconstructed we are able to move ahead with a well-thought-out concept, which includes multiple modes of transportation amenities.”

She said that the hoped-for improvements to Gorham Road would likely be paid for by the town “as funds become available.” Blanchette also said the town would likely look for partners to help pay for the various projects, such as the Maine Department of Transportation.

Cory Fellows, chairman of the Scarborough Planning Board, said the reason this section of Gorham Road is so important is because “it’s a unique stretch of road that includes a cross-section of town life, including commercial activity, our school complex, several residential neighborhoods and an important local watershed in the Nonesuch River crossing.”

He added that,“with such a wide range of land uses along this stretch of Gorham Road, public input will be critical. It will be important to balance the needs of businesses and those who use the road as a conduit from one part of town to another with those of the many people who live along the road or in neighborhoods that connect to the road.”

Fellows hopes that this week’s kickoff planning meeting will allow the town to begin to “define some of the challenges and opportunities presented by this corridor.”

“It’s always a good idea to get early public input on these types of things since even the most well-intentioned visions and designs from professional planners may not always capture the concerns of people who experience a road or intersection on a regular basis as part of their daily lives,” he said.

Part of the future vision for this section of Gorham Road may also include various aspects of the Complete Streets initiative, which is a national coalition that encourages planners to make roadways accessible and safe for all users.

The National Complete Streets Coalition describes its planning goal as making it “easy to cross the street, walk to shops and bicycle to work.”

The coalition website also says a Complete Streets design would allow “every transportation project (to) make the street network better and safer for drivers, transit users, pedestrians and bicyclists.”

The website adds that aspects of Complete Streets might include “sidewalks, protected bike lanes, accessible public transportation stops, frequent and safe crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals and ramps, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes, roundabouts and more.”

For Fellows, the “range of characteristics and the town’s desire to ensure that (this section of Gorham Road) is as efficient and as safe as possible” is what makes it “an excellent candidate” for the Complete Streets program.

Gorham Road in Scarborough is one of the town’s most heavily traveled thoroughfares. The town is now taking public comment on future road improvements.Staff photo by Kate Irish CollinsHeavy use is taking its toll on Gorham Road in Scarborough, as cracked pavement, potholes and drainage become more serious problems for drivers.Staff photos by Kate Irish Collins