MEXICO – Selectmen on Wednesday launched a petition drive that they hope will prevent a truck-route bypass that would circumvent their town.

Next week, Rumford selectmen are expected to launch plans to try to get the Maine Department of Transportation to designate just such a bypass around a section of Route 2 that runs through the business section of Mexico as well as some of Rumford’s residential and commercial streets.

Mexico officials say it’s a matter of economic survival, while Rumford officials say some of the narrow streets that now carry large trucks as well as passenger traffic create safety issues.

MDOT Division 7 engineer Norm Haggan said because of what he termed a political and volatile issue between the two towns, the decision will likely be made by the DOT commissioner.

“Everybody has valid concerns. It’ll be a tough decision,” Haggan said, adding, “The DOT won’t rush into anything.”

Haggan notified the town of Rumford two weeks ago that he decided against its request to designate a truck-route bypass. Since such a bypass affects both towns and both towns didn’t agree, he decided against Rumford’s request.

The issue, however, is far from over.

Along with the petitions now being circulated in both Rumford and Mexico against the bypass, are plans by Mexico Town Manager Joseph Derouche to hold a public hearing on the matter on Sept. 10. At that time, he expects to take comments from many of his town’s businesspeople.

The petitions can include the names of any registered voter in the state. Derouche hopes to get as many signatures as possible by Sept. 24 when the petitions and a letter of explanation, will be sent to MDOT Commissioner David Cole and Gov. John Baldacci.

At least one selectmen, Reggie Arsenault, said he will go door to door gathering signatures. Derouche said he is looking for more volunteers to do the same. Most petitions are located at various downtown Mexico businesses.

“This is a big issue for the Valley. We’ve been promoting an economic route from beyond Hanover to East Dixfield – that’s Route 2,” he said.

He said some businesses have told him that they would go under if the bypass was designated.

“Every car going through town is a potential customer. A lot of businesses are on edge right now,” he said. “Cars will follow trucks, and if we lose traffic we will lose business.”

He hopes, within the next few weeks, to call a joint meeting of the Mexico and Rumford boards, the Route 2 Corridor Committee and the MDOT to discuss the matter before any other action is taken.

Rumford Town Manager Robert Welch said the issue of designating a truck bypass route has been a safety issue for years.

“The way some trucks make the corners, it’s something waiting to happen,” he said. “If truck drivers knew about the route, they wouldn’t use Route 2.”

The proposed bypass would leave Route 2 at the Veterans Bridge just east of Mexico, then travel up Route 108 across Morse Bridge in Rumford, then up Falls Hill, cutting out the business section of Mexico and several twists and turns through Rumford streets.

Welch said he expects the Rumford board to launch a petition favoring a bypass.

He said designating a bypass wouldn’t be doing away with Route 2 as an economic corridor. “It would be just a bypass for a small part, and not mandatory for anyone to use. Anyone who wants to stop and eat can get off it,” he said.

He also took issue with tentative proposals to re-line the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Hancock Street that would allow wider turns by large trucks. He said he doubts the DOT would spend large amounts of money to upgrade curvy, hilly areas of Route 2 that run through his town.

Haggan said the soonest such design work could be done is 2005. Money wouldn’t come for such projects until 2007.

“We may be able to come up with a compromise that both towns can live with,” he said.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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