DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’d like to know what the problem is with the street light at Main and Lincoln streets in Lewiston. It’s so bad some days the traffic is backed up all the way across the bridge to Gritty’s.

There’s a lot more traffic going across the bridge from Lewiston-Auburn than there is coming from Lincoln Street. These lights should be adjusted to accept the heavier traffic. Ii don’t know who made this decision, but it should be corrected. Thanks for your help. — No Name via email

ANSWER: For a response, Sun Spots emailed David Jones, the director for Lewiston’s Department of Public Works, who referred the issue to engineer Jason Ready, who works on timing the lights.

Jason observed the intersection from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, and addressed the traffic coming from several different directions in that area, as you didn’t specify direction.

He said he didn’t “see any backups of magnitude. I travel that corridor semi-regularly and don’t see backups on Court Street at Lincoln. It can back up, but the queue always seems to clear during the green phase, which tells me the timing is just fine. There may need to be offset improvements for the coordination, but that can always be improved at every intersection.

“If the complaint was about backups going eastbound at Main and Lisbon/Canal, I would say that’s a legit complaint. That can back up almost to Lincoln with semi-regularity.

“If the complaint was about the mess at Court/Turner and surrounding, I would have to say we are doing the best with what we have. But the only problems I am aware of at Main/Lincoln are just a ‘half-hour’ peak hour of exiting traffic from Lincoln onto Main when all the big business buildings empty out.”

So the city engineers are aware of these issues and will continue to observe and adjust as they can.

We Mainers are pretty used to free-flowing traffic, but even in small-town Maine, there is only so much the experts can do about the increased volume of traffic at rush hour. Sun Spots is so allergic to traffic she never goes to Augusta in the late afternoon — too much risk of getting caught in the state employee onslaught!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’ve never seen this addressed in your column. When the train comes through Lewiston-Auburn after midnight, it blows its whistle, often four times a night. It’s so disturbing.

Everyone here gets up early for work five days a week. We need our sleep. What’s the reason for this whistle blowing? I’m thinking of moving to the country! — No Name, L-A

ANSWER: The train engineer is not just getting his jollies blowing that whistle. It’s a safety issue. Federal law requires that freight trains blow their whistles at all crossings at night. There are also other specific situations in which whistle blowing is required.

You are not alone in your complaints, however, and there have been groups in some regions who have organized to object to the volume and frequency of the whistles. Sun Spots thinks they sound romantic, but then she does live in the country.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Calvary United Methodist Church at 59 Sabattus St. in Lewiston will be holding its annual fall rummage sale from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

We would like to donate any remaining items to organizations that would be able to pick up items between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday following the sale. If interested, please call 225-5263.

We are anticipating a good assortment of clothing and household items and fun catching up with friends and neighbors. All are welcome! — Penny Goodwin, Lewiston

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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