A man crosses Main Street on Monday in downtown Lisbon. A milelong stretch of the street will be rebuilt as part of a $5.14 million project starting this year. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
LISBON — After seven years of planning, reconstruction on Main Street is set to begin in the next several weeks.
The $5.14 million state project promises a complete overhaul of the milelong stretch between Route 196 and Huston Street at the heart of the town.
The road and sidewalks will be completely redone, improving drainage and making the road compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Water and sewer lines will also be replaced, as well as the electrical wiring and street lights.
An aging retaining wall will also be redone.
Locals will need to tolerate the disruption until November of 2023, when the project is slated to be completed. Only one lane of the street will be open during much of the construction.
“It will be a much better road and much more appealing for downtown,” Lisbon Public Works Director Randy Cyr said, adding that the project is “well overdue.”
More than a dozen businesses on Main Street stand to be affected by the construction.
“It’s important that we leave a travel lane open so people can still make it to the businesses on Main Street,” Police Chief and interim Town Manager Ryan McGee said. “That way we can continue supporting the downtown area and making sure that those businesses have customers continue to go there.”
A retaining wall on Main Street in Lisbon will be rebuilt when the street is reconstructed this year. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
Several businesses are looking at operating behind their buildings, such as opening up outdoor dining, he said.
Main Street parking will be limited, but the town will open temporary parking at the former Worumbo Mill, by the Rusty Lantern Market and on Booker and Union streets, Cyr said.
On Monday, the Maine Department of Transportation, McGee Construction and Lisbon officials answered questions from residents and business owners regarding the construction.
There is no connection between McGee Construction and the interim town manager.
The Moxie Festival will return to downtown Lisbon this summer after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike previous years, the parade will continue down Route 196 instead of turning on Main Street.
The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments is funding 80% of the project. The state and town will each cover 10%.
Residents voted in 2019 to allow the Lisbon Water Department to borrow up to $6 million to repair outdated and failing infrastructure. Some of this money will go toward the Main Street project, while the rest will be used in other parts of town.
Lisbon has seen problems year after year with the aging water and sewer lines, including water line breaks.
Town officials asked that residents be patient and drive carefully through the construction zone.
A woman and children cross Main Street in Lisbon on Monday afternoon. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
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