Franklin County commissioners voiced strong support in getting repairs done to Route 156 in Perkins and Washington townships.

The Maine Department of Transportation sent commissioners a map of their proposed improvement plans in the county over the next six years and asked if commissioners could select any proposed projects they thought should take priority.

Commissioners Gary McGrane said that Route 156 is a “major concern for commissioners,” who would like to see the problems there addressed as soon as possible.

Other roads named by the DOT for proposed overhauling included Route 156 in Wilton, Route 41 in Chesterville/New Sharon, Route 43 between Industry and Starks, and Route 16 between Rangeley and Coplin Plantation.

– Samantha C. DePoy
New Vineyard:Petition seeks

road maintenance

A petition from a New Vineyard resident asking the county to improve road maintenance on Lowell Drive has been put on hold until a public hearing in late April.

Irene Lowell of 31 Lowell Drive wrote to Franklin County commissioners regarding what she described as poor winter maintenance of the road, which is maintained by the town.

The road is not being maintained the way it should be, she said. The petition was signed by two others, Mike Lowell of Stratton and Cecile Lowell of New Vineyard.

Commissioner Gary McGrane said problems with the dead-end road date back to 1975.

All three commissioners have been up to look at the problems, one of which is that snow falls off of a pitched roof of a mobile home on Lowell Drive and falls in the road, he said. The trailer is so close to the road that it’s hard to plow in front of the home without plowing the residents in, McGrane added.

The town, he said, has continued to put the issue on the back burner.

Commissioners agreed they want to resolve the issue, but said it would be better to look at the road when the snow had melted a bit. A public hearing has been set for 9 a.m. on April 20 to take place at the entrance of Lowell Drive.

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