BIDDEFORD — Frustration is evident among residents of South Street neighborhoods in Biddeford reeling from a massive construction project now in its third month that involves the reconstruction of sewer and storm water drains, installation of new water pipes, repaving the roadway, adding new curbing and rebuilding sidewalks there.

Impassable roads, flying dirt and blasting operations in the once-serene neighborhoods surrounding Biddeford High School have resulted in a lost summer for many living in the area who question why they weren’t given more notice about the disruption and a lack of communication with the city about the work, which conflicts with city policy about notifying residents of work projects.

“I was not given the opportunity to prepare for and plan my life accordingly. Home improvement projects and social activities have been disrupted. The only information I’ve received from the town is extremely broad in scope,” said Sandra Greenan, who has lived on South Street for the past 18 years in an 1855 home that has been lovingly restored. “Thus, I’m not aware of what phase they’re at, what’s been done, what’s left to do, when they’re going to return to the front of my house, will there be any more digging there, am I free today to have people over?  That’s what I’ve been living with for the past months. I’m led to assume more of the same in the upcoming three-plus more months of this project.”

Greenan said more than anything else, she and her neighbors are seeking respect and open communication with city officials about the project.

“From downtown (City Hall Engineering Office) to the Public Works Department, we’re not receiving timely and relevant information,” Greenan said.  “The city held no public forums, town meetings or sent out public notices to alert residents. Had meetings been held prior to respond to citizens’ questions and concerns I would not be saying this today. The only information I received from the City of Biddeford Maine Engineering Office was dated June 5,  three days before the project got underway and it wasn’t posted on the city’s website until July 23.”

According to Biddeford Public Works Director Jeff Demers, in planning for significant projects such as the work currently under way on South Street, the city does not conduct public forums or informational sessions for the residents affected by construction prior to the project.

“We do not have a special public meeting for individual jobs. We do go in front of Finance and council to get the project awarded. At that time any resident would have the opportunity to talk during the public speaking portion of the meeting. All council and finance agendas can be found on the city’s web site with meetings shown on the community calendar,” Demers wrote in an email to the Journal Tribune.

Demers wrote that the city typically notifies residents of projects of such scope and magnitude on the city’s website, in a local newspaper, via Twitter, and through door-to-door notices with contact telephone numbers. He also wrote that Biddeford City  councilors are briefed during the approval process about individual jobs.

According to Demers, when the city has projects of this scope and magnitude, typically, 30-days notice plus or minus is given, a fact some South Street residents refute regarding this particular project.

“I only had a two-week warning and that was only because I spoke with a contractor who was surveying the area,” said Helene Guerin, who lives on South Street. “When I told him this was the first I had heard anything about it, he was astounded. There’s a very big lack of communication.”

She said the project has caused a considerable amount of dirt in the air around her home and during the blasting, her entire house has shook.

“We only received a hand-delivered notice three days before the work started,” Greenan said.

Greenan said since the onset of the South Street project in June, she’s been bombarded with noise and air pollution a minimum of five days a week for eight hours a day.

“We are forced to keep almost all, 19 out of 23 windows in the living area, of our home closed. We don’t have air conditioning. The first floor of our home is a sauna and the second floor where we have four windows open has a constant covering of dirt, she said. “I have serious concerns about the road dust from the road carcinogens being released into our home and outside. The cleanup outside will be extremely costly and labor intensive. Window washing and power washing the house will most likely lead to it requiring a new paint job. Our front lawn will also require maintenance as a huge hole from the street onto our property was dug. We also found a limb from our pear tree broken already.

“In the past, we’ve spent the major part of the summer and fall outside in our yard or screened side porch,” she said. “We’ve been unable to do that due to the road dust taking place during the day. Our outdoor furniture is covered with dust. As a matter of fact the side porch requires constant cleaning and the screen structure will require replacement as we used PVC and can’t get it clean.”

She says living in the construction zone has included constant vibrations from excavation and heavy equipment usage.

“The force felt like earthquakes. They were so bad that my neighbor across the street, who has a newer house, more frontage and is on a knoll, posted it on Facebook,” Greenan said. “I’ve noticed cracks in the plaster. How much can my house withstand and at what cost? The truck and heavy equipment noise, exhaust smell and windblown debris and dust are a constant issue. It is stressful and tiring. Fortunately we don’t have pets and don’t watch television during the day. Unfortunately we can’t listen to music or hear ourselves talk.”

Both Guerin and Greenan and another neighbor on Pinnacle Lane who did not wish to be identified said they are not opposed to progress and the work being accomplished by the construction crews, but want the city to do a better job of easing residents’ concerns.

“I’m all for improvement, but you need to communicate with people,” Greenan said. “Phone calls aren’t returned, emails aren’t answered and as incredulous as it may seem, we’ve been left in the dark when we’ve requested any information regarding updates and scheduling. We understand that the work needs to be fluid and changes could occur. Surely with a project of this magnitude some form of blanket communication such as email, group call, voicemail, etc. could be sent to affected residents. After all, the technology exists for the city to do so regarding snow emergencies and parking bans. As South Street residents and taxpayers we’ve been totally disregarded, whereas the city’s sidewalk restoration project has had council meetings and publicity.”

Beside dirt flying everywhere, during a storm the ripped up roadway surface becomes a mini-river.

“When it rains there is a sea out there,” said Dave Colclough of South Street. “If it happens at night, it spews all over the place, including our yard.”

In July, Biddeford City Engineer Tom Milligan said that the $2.336 million project involving multiple agencies stretches from Highland Drive to Briarwood Drive along South Street, with limited access to motorists. When that portion of construction wraps up, Maine Water will replace more than 2,400 feet of old, undersized cast iron water main installed in the 1880s that is part of Biddeford’s original water system.

Through the decades, the existing pipelines have been subject to multiple breaks causing interrupted service and other issues along South Street and surrounding neighborhoods, Milligan said. Maine Water will replace existing pipe in the area with 8-inch ductile iron main lines, install several new fire hydrants and renew and replace older customer service connections along South Street.

Milligan said that the sewer separation process converts the old combined, single-pipe system into separate sewers for sanitary and storm water flows under an EPA mandate for older systems like Biddeford.

Using the new separated sewer and storm drains, storm water is conveyed to a storm water outfall for discharge directly into receiving water, helping protect drinking water and reducing contamination for the city. Working to complete the project for the city of Biddeford and Maine Water are crews from general contractor Pratt and Sons of Minot.

Greenan pointed out that she lives in one of the oldest houses on the street and at no time in her years of owning the home have they ever had a water problem issue.

“My neighbors would also concur,” Greenan said. “So while this project will ultimately be better for the environment, I’m not so sure that my house will be in the same condition as it was before this project was sprung on us.”

She advises others facing similar projects in their neighborhoods to take precautions.

“I would advise citizenry to be proactive with their city governments,” Greenan said. “Demand forums for work projects that will impact you. Get answers to your inquiries and concerns prior to a project. Take photos of your home and have them notarized to ensure financial restitution from your city government for home repairs prior to project implementation. Being prepared is smart. ”

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at [email protected]