NORWAY — Voters at the annual town meeting Monday approved a $1.2 million bond that will be used, in large part, to overhaul lower Main Street.

The majority of 60 or so voters agreed to the authorization of the bond. A total of $400,000 will be used as the town’s share of the project, which is expected to begin in the summer of 2015 to address ongoing drainage issues, old sewer lines and total reconstruction of the street. The state will pay for the other half of the project costs, according to Town Manager David Holt.

The section of road runs from the First Congregational Church to near Aubuchon Hardware on Route 26. It contains a mixture of commercial and residential properties, anchored by Stephens Memorial Hospital.

The remaining $800,000 of the $1.2 million bond will go toward other road projects.

Dennise Whitley asked whether any of the money could be used to address the deteriorating Roberts Road. The road has seen more traffic because of the Roberts Farm activities. Some repairs are slated but not a total reclamation.

Some of the money will be used for improvements to Crockett Ridge, Frost Hill and Shedd roads.

“It’s so hard to keep up with our road needs,” Holt said. “It’s tough.”

Holt also told voters that plans to do the downtown section of Main Street may be done in a 50/50 share with the state. But, he said, because of the size of the project and its disruption to the businesses, the project is not at the forefront of the list.

“It needs to be done but it will take a lot of planning,” he said.

The good news, Holt said, is “every time we do a road, it gets us one step closer to doing another road.”

The $1.2 million bond will be issued after the town’s $1 million bond is paid off this year.

ldixon@sunjournal.,com