CHESTERVILLE — Options for dealing with the May landslide on the George Thomas Road were explained to about 40 residents gathered Monday for an informational meeting.

Considering an application for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, town officials along with engineers and a Maine Emergency Management Agency representative explained the funding process and why a proposed bypass road was the chosen option for dealing with one of the longest landslides in the state.

A six-foot crack appeared on May 6. The next morning, Patrick McHugh, road foreman, arrived to find about a 300-foot section of the road had slid 22 feet down toward the river and out 30 feet, he said.

Test borings have shown a deep soft clay under the road is affected by a natural flow of water through the clay, Craig Coolidge of Summit Engineering told residents.

“There’s still potential for more movement, more failure,” he explained.

Engineers and town officials considered options, including creating a bypass from Route 41 to a site further east on the road and abandoning the section. Other options included relocating the road, reconstructing it or a combination of relocating/reconstruction or doing nothing.

“It’s significantly cheaper to build a bypass road than to reconstruct it,” said Aaron Dyer of Dirigo Engineering.

Reconstruction and relocation involve bringing in fill, riprap and allowing time for the new fill to stabilize. It’s considered an expensive option.

Costs for each option are estimated at $298,000 for the bypass, not including the purchase of property, compared to $520,000 for moving the road, $700,000 for reconstruction, or $440,000 for a combination of relocation/reconstruction.

For the 10-15 houses located in the Chesterville section of the road that continues on to New Sharon, the “do nothing” option is not appealing. The road was opened for one-lane local traffic this summer to provide access for emergency vehicles but is posted to keep trucks from pounding on the fragile section of road that slopes down to Sandy River.

The FEMA hazard mitigation grant requires a 25 percent match from the town for the 75 percent award, explained Joanne Mooney from MEMA. She is helping with the application for $315,000.

A portion of the town’s match can come from use of the town’s gravel pit, labor and equipment, she said.

The town has already spent nearly $35,000 dealing with the problem, Worth said. Some of that can also offset the match but voters will have the ultimate say.

Mooney was optimistic about the potential for the town receiving FEMA funds. The road rated a score of 94 out of a 100 during a review. Anything over 70 goes to FEMA and most applicants are in the 80s, she said.

There are some environmental issues to consider, including a vernal pool near the proposed bypass road. A walk through the property by state regulating agencies and FEMA is the next step, she said.

Residents raised questions about other sites along the river/road,  including some in New Sharon that could be an issue.  They also mentioned the need to discuss it with that town‘s officials, access by emergency vehicles and entrance to the bypass road being located on a crest where traffic could be an issue.

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