WOODSTOCK – Rebuilding of Concord Pond Road is set to get under way soon and be finished around July 4.

Road Foreman Randy Eastman said the first phase will include ditching to improve drainage, new gravel to raise the grade and shaping a new crown.

“We will be doing a section starting at the power line on the Milton end and another section that will include Shackley Hill as those are the worst areas and should be done first,” Eastman said.

Asked by Concord Pond Campers Association President Roland Pelletier how much of the road would actually be done in the first phase, Town Manager/Road Commissioner Vern Maxfield said, “As far as the $20,000 raised at town meeting in March will go, or about one mile.”

The Concord Pond Road is currently seasonal and not maintained by the town in winter.

Pelletier asked what the process would be to change the status of the road so it would be maintained year around.

Maxfield explained that every five years a hearing is held to decide whether to continue closing the road in the winter, “and when that time runs out the road is automatically opened for year around maintenance unless the people agree to continue the winter closing.”

“I believe that will by in 2005,” he said.

Selectmen agree that eventually the road will need to be kept open because traffic is increasing each year. A traffic count last fall found there were 72 cars per day using the road. Another will be done this summer for comparison purposes.

Maxfield plans to talk with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to see if permits can be gained so the dam at the outlet of Concord Pond can be replaced.

It has been learned that over the past several years the old dam has been dismantled by unknown persons, allowing the pond level to drop significantly.

Camp owner Sterling Mills said the level is down from 6 to 8 inches, and during the late summer it often is down about 1 foot.

“The water level needs to be raised to its normal level,” said Mills, “which would be in the best interest of the town.”

Eastman reported that the Koskela Road project is complete except for a short section that will be finished in the fall. The project involved ditching, grading and replacing 14 culverts.