WILTON – Road access could affect economic growth along Route 2 near Dexter Supply and the new Comfort Inn, state Rep. Tom Saviello told the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday.

The independent legislator from Wilton offered to help selectmen request a traffic study from the Maine Department of Transportation.

With some interest expressed in property along that area, Saviello urged the board to take action before some business puts in a proposal only to find it would have to spend $500,000 for an access road.

Because the road is a state highway, new businesses would need entrance permits from the MDOT, town Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague said Wednesday. The MDOT considers speed limit and traffic volume in granting access to state highways. Applicants can end up paying for upgrades to the highway or having to build access roads that can be shared with abutting property owners, creating fewer driveways on the highway, he said.

This particular section has a 50-mph speed limit that runs around a corner with a rise on the road that would probably lead MDOT to look at visibility, speed and traffic issues, Montague said.

Although Saviello suggested a drop in the speed limit to 35 mph could occur in that area, Montague said he would rather see double lanes like those near the hospital created to enable people to turn off the road.

Saviello offered to draft a letter requesting a meeting and potential traffic study. He also offered to attend the meeting along with the town manager and selectmen.

The board also raised concerns about the Canal Street Bridge, which is targeted for demolition in the MDOT’s five-year plan.

Incoming Town Manager Rhonda Irish told the board her research revealed the steel on the bridge is deteriorating and the MDOT looks at the bridge as being redundant because there is another entrance to the boat launch area of Wilson Lake.

The board did not want to see the bridge taken down. Saviello urged selectmen to continue working on it because the town’s lack of a voice could imply acceptance, he said.