AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage is seeking to reassure Mainers concerned about the proposed east-west highway across the state, saying the study process will be thorough and thoughtful.
The governor’s statement Tuesday comes in the wake of Republican Sen. Doug Thomas’s request to LePage to suspend the study until property owners’ concerns can be addressed. Thomas, of Ripley, supports the highway proposal but says many people are concerned about rights of way and other ways that the land could be used.
LePage said that the state Transportation Department is still defining the scope of the study, and has not moved forward to the point of implementation.
The Legislature in March authorized spending $300,000 for an independent feasibility study of building the 220-mile highway from Calais to Coburn Gore.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less