FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted Tuesday night to accept a reconfiguration of the intersection of Box Shop Hill and Belcher roads.

Although board members voted for the plan for the already troublesome intersection, they also wished to pass the issue along to the Maine Department of Transportation because of concerns by residents.

If all goes planned, the entrance to Box Shop Hill Road will soon only be a one-way entrance and those exiting the area will be forced to obey a new stop sign at the bottom of the road. Instead of being able to connect to Fairbanks road straight from Box Shop Hill, drivers will have to take an immediate right and then connect to routes 4 and 27.

The grass island would be moved and reconfigured to help widen the small inlet connecting Fairbanks to Belcher into a double width lane.

The changes come about after the state’s request that all access to adjoining roads be at a perpendicular angle, which would then help lessen blind spots and assist drivers who lack the ability to make the oddly angled turn toward Main street.

While many were on hand to gain a better perspective on the reconfiguration, others spoke against the proposed construction. Some felt that the new stop sign was unnecessary, while others simply complained about the influx of traffic and speeding violations on the road.

While many were opposed to the new stop sign, Town Manager Dick Davis assured that the project would not go further without the sign, seeing that it was the state’s recommendation.

Also on the schedule was the discussion on funding for the Lincoln Street sewer project. Selectmen decided to table the issue until the next meeting to obtain more information.

The project came about with the expected addition of a five-story, 100-bed residence hall at the University of Maine at Farmington campus. Selectmen not only expressed concerns regarding the sewer capacity at the location but also wanted feedback on how the university intended on helping finance the project.

“I’d have the university be responsible for at least half of the cost of the project,” said Davis.

Chairman Mary Wright said, “I’d go even higher.”

“The current sewer system at Lincoln Street is already nearing capacity,” engineer James Lord said. The proposed development will cause the Lincoln Street main to exceed capacity.

The future addition of a new education center, as well as the elimination of several on-campus apartments were also discussed in reference to the sewer woes.

In other news, selectmen also voted to accept an animal control ordinance which would require the removal and disposal of any feces left by a dog on any street, sidewalk, publicly-owned property or private property.

Copy the Story Link