PARIS – Following more than a year of reconstruction, a stretch of Route 117 across Streaked Mountain has been completed, improving travel for drivers between Paris and Buckfield.
Rich Crawford, project manager for the Maine Department of Transportation’s Western Regional Highway Program, said Wednesday that the total cost of the project was $7.4 million.
“The whole corridor was brought up to date,” he said.
The reconstruction began in August 2004 and was completed last month. The reconstruction covers a 9.48-mile stretch of Route 117 that Crawford said was in poor condition.
Driving from Paris toward Buckfield, the improved stretch of road begins eight-tenths of a mile north of the junction of Routes 117 and 119 in South Paris.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday that included Sharon Jackson, town manager of Paris; Glen Holmes, Buckfield town manager; Rich Livingston, chief executive officer of the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce; and other dignitaries.
“It really was a festive morning,” said Livingston. “We were really interested in solidifying the new relationship between the two towns to remind everyone that we are indeed all part of the same community, the wonderful Oxford Hills of western Maine.”
On Monday, volunteers from the chamber distributed tollhouse cookies to thank drivers who were inconvenienced by the reconstruction.
The reconstruction should reduce travel time between Buckfield and South Paris because of the much smoother road surface. Crawford said that in addition to repaving, the reconstruction included taking 11 feet off the top of a hill to reduce the grade, making it less hazardous for trucks.
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