TOPSHAM
The new high school project proposed by School Administrative District 75 will go before the State Board of Education next week, and district voters should get to have their say in a March referendum.
Lyndon Keck of PDT Architects and Brad Smith, Superintendent of SAD 75, presented details of the project to the Topsham Board of Selectmen Thursday. They told selectmen the project went before the Construction Committee, a subcommittee of the State Board of Education on Jan. 3.
The Construction Committee unanimously voted to recommend the state board grant concept approval for the $60.7 million project, which is on the state board’s agenda Wednesday.
Smith said next Thursday, the SAD 75 board of directors will consider approving dates for a series of public meetings, a public hearing on the project and a March 7 districtwide referendum.
There will be two separate referendum questions, Keck said. One asks voters to support the base project but a second one asks if voters will support an upgrade from a grass competition field to an artificial turf field.
If the project is supported by voters at that referendum, the current schedule aims to have, among several other steps, the design development complete by August 2017, the project out to bid by March 2018, and occupancy by September 2020.
Selectmen asked questions about the project, particularly concerning the school entrance where there is currently traffic congestion at the start and end of the school day. Keck said the exit at Eagle Ways and Route 201 will be rebuilt and there will be a new right turn lane to help right-turning vehicles exit more quickly.
Keck said no traffic movement permit is required by Maine Department of Transportation. The department was adamant no traffic lights be installed at either campus entrance. The DOT will allow flashing school zone lights on Route 201, which tell motorists what speed to travel at certain times of the day.
There were no other suggestions by DOT or the traffic engineer to make left hand turns easier, though Eagles Way will be widened, Keck said. These are issues the Topsham Planning Board will likely discuss during its review of the project.
Keck said there will be a new crosswalk on Route 201 and existing sidewalks extended on Eagles Way.
Selectman chairman Dave Douglass raised concerns back in October 2016 about the proposed artificial turf competition field that has been proposed in place of a grass field.
At issue is the crumb rubber infill most commonly used in synthetic turf field construction, and the concern the ground tires could contain carcinogens. Studies so far haven’t been conclusive. There are infill products made from other materials available.
Smith said a federal study into the safety of crumb rubber was just released Wednesday, but it still doesn’t provide clear direction. It appears the study will continue into 2017.
If there isn’t validation into the safety of crumb rubber infill, Smith expects the Building Committee will move to another kind of infill product if voters want to support a turf field.
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