William Clarke Drive construction to hibernate for winter

WESTBROOK – The ongoing construction project on one of Westbrook’s major roadways will soon halt for the winter.

The $5.5 million project to transform the four-lane William Clarke Drive into a pedestrian-friendly road is on track for an August 2011 completion, city engineer Eric Dudley said.

The project started up after Memorial Day this year. By mid-December, contractor RJ Grondin & Sons of Gorham should be ready to break for the winter, according to John Mayol, resident engineer hired by the Maine Department of Transportation.

“I hate to make a prediction because things change so much,” Mayol said, in cautioning about any construction timeline.

During the winter months, crews might still be out working on traffic signals, Dudley said. The northerly sidewalk will also be incomplete and unplowed over the winter, so pedestrians are advised to walk along the new sidewalk on the south side of the street, he said.

Officials warned the public early on that the project would cause its fair share of headaches. Dudley said it has caused some traffic delays, with the worst backups occurring during the morning commute when motorists head east into Portland.

Local residents who frequently venture to cross the street say construction has not slowed down vehicles any.

“It usually takes a while to cross,” said Jamielynn McCarthy, a resident of Mechanic Street. “Yesterday it took me 15 minutes to get across the street. Yeah, it was in the middle of rush hour, but you’d think someone could’ve stopped.”

“Nobody wants to stop,” William Hughes of Brackett Street said. “You’ve pretty much got to take your chance.”

Hughes, an employee of Martini Lane Discount Beverages, said the local businesses are facing their own difficulties due to the construction.

“It’s killing us,” he said. “Family Dollar, CVS, they’re all feeling it. I know these businesses are feeling it.”

Steve Totman, owner of The Baker’s Bench, said he suffered big losses on a few days when he did not know in advance that construction would be restricting access to his business. He also cited the day of a major gas line break as one that was bad for business.

“I’m looking forward to when they’re done,” he said.

While he lamented that occasional lack of communication about the construction schedule, Totman said his business numbers have mostly been steady through the construction and he understands the project has merit.

“Having a sidewalk on this side of the street is what mattered,” he said. “The way it was (before) was the worst-case scenario.”

Don Littlefield, owner of True Value at the intersection of Central Street, agreed.

“They’ve actually done a great job with the construction as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I think they’re making great progress.”

Business has been down, he said, but he attributed it more to the state of the economy than to construction. He said he is glad the city is pursuing it now, while business is slow anyway.

Littlefield said he has heard the installation of the median will be the hardest part of the job, but once finished it will be a marked improvement over the “no-man’s land” pedestrians currently have to cross.

Grim memories of pedestrian fatalities were part of the impetus for completing the William Clarke Drive reconstruction. A 35 mph speed limit is hardly obeyed as cars race through intersections and crosswalks.

The project includes the installation of a sidewalk on the south side of the street, as well as a grassy median with trees, shrubs and bushes to beautify the area and serve as a “pedestrian refuge,” Dudley said.

“We’re trying to improve the aesthetics of the corridor, as well,” he said.

Officials hope the road’s transformation will lead to more people walking through and exploring the downtown.

Dudley said the state constructed the road in the 1960s as a Main Street bypass. Approximately 22,000 cars now traverse the road daily, with another 19,000 traveling on Main Street each day, he said.

Interconnected traffic signals will be installed that may alleviate traffic congestion and issues with speeding. Dudley said cars going the speed limit should be able to travel from one end of William Clarke Drive to another without catching multiple red lights.

Within the next few weeks, Mayol expects westbound traffic to be restored to two lanes. Crews will continue working on the sidewalk until the season ends, he said.

Norman Hightower of South Paris, a flagman for Traffic Control LLC, keeps an eye on rush hour traffic Wednesday morning along William Clarke Drive as a construction crew works nearby on cabling for new traffic lights. Photo by Rich Obrey