Maine Department of Transportation’s redesign of the Main Street and Skeetfield Road intersection in Oxford has not improved traffic safety, according to town officials. Screenshot

OXFORD — The Board of Selectmen raised concerns during Thursday’s meeting about traffic issues on Main Street caused by two Maine Department of Transportation road projects.

MDOT completed extensive work along Route 26 earlier this year. While repaving that road has made just about everyone happy, other improvements have local officials seeing red.

The intersection around 1040 Main St. and Skeetfield Road now has an abrupt turn to Route 26, which includes a lane-wide section that drivers must pull across in order to turn left from Skeetfield Road.

“I think it’s time that someone from the state comes and talks to this board,” Selectperson Sharon Jackson said.

“When you come off the Skeetfield Road and turn to go toward the Norway area, getting out of there is really deep. You’ve got cars coming right at you and there is no lighting there at night,” Jackson said. “When you turn right onto Skeetfield Road, you’re coming right at the cars at the stop sign. So if it’s slippery out, you can drive right into the side of that car.”

MDOT reconstructed the intersection from what was a gradual right turn on Skeetfield into a sharp right turn. Jackson said when weather conditions affect visibility, it is difficult for drivers to know exactly where they are and when to turn.

“I think the state needs to put more lights there,” she said. “And when you turn right onto Skeetfield Road, they need to take where they planted grass and turn some of that back into road so it’s more of a gradual turn.”

Jackson also questioned why MDOT has not addressed the Select Board about a future project to add traffic lights to another busy intersection, at about 1440 Main St. and Oxford Street.

“Apparently the state is going to put a light there, but this board was never talked to about it,” she said. “They had the discussion with the town of Paris, but the intersection is in Oxford.

“I understand they’ve talked (with Oxford), but not with the Select Board as they should have. Apparently the state is going to do something, but I want to know where they are on the project.”

Town Manager Adam Garland confirmed he has reached out to MDOT about the Oxford Street project, but because of personnel changes there has been a lag in communications from them. He said he would follow up to request a meeting be scheduled with the board about both the Skeetfield Road and Oxford Street intersections.