RANGELEY — A public hearing for the proposed Scenic Byway Gateway Project was held Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The project includes planning, designing, engineering and constructing two Gateway Connector Hubs on town owned properties that currently serve as parking areas. One hub will be located on Depot Street in Rangeley; the other at the intersection of Routes 4 and 16 in Oquossoc. The project is a joint effort that includes Maine DOT, the town and Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.
Wright-Pierce Project Manager Jamie Wallace and Landscape Architect Kalle Maggio presented the conceptual plans for the project.
“The main goal of this presentation is to get feedback from residents and users of the two gateways. We have some concepts that we are going to present but nothing is set in stone. We want to listen to feedback, and get some thoughts and ideas to refine these concepts. We want to put out a product that you will be proud of and be able to use,” Wallace explained.
The Scenic Byway runs from Rumford/Mexico and follows Route 17 across Height of Land into Oquossoc. From there, it follows Route 4 through Rangeley to Madrid.
“These lots bookend the Scenic Byway that runs right through Rangeley. It’s kind of a unique opportunity. There are two very distinct lots in two very distinct locations,” he said.
The majority of the funding for the project will come from the National Scenic Byways Program. The local share comes in at 12 percent. During a public hearing on Nov. 18, 2024, Town Manager Joe Roach said the estimated budget for the project is approximately $735,000.
Wallace explained the project goals include creating gateway hubs on either end of Rangeley; providing increased safe off-street parking for vehicles and recreational trailers; creating pedestrian connectivity to downtown areas and amenities; and inclusion of wayfinding and interpretive signage, streetscaping and landscaping. The concept includes kiosks, pavilions and picnic areas at each of the lots.
Concept design considerations included ADA compliance, delineated parking spaces, signage to match the theme of the area, lighting and stormwater management.
“The Depot Street lot includes the front lot and some potential to expand on the portion of the lot,” Wallace said. “We got a little creative with that back lot and some of the concepts. We looked at trailer parking and where overflow parking would make the most sense.”
The Oquossoc lot would provide a unique opportunity for those using the nearby boat launch to park their vehicles.

Wright-Pierce conceptual plans for a National Scenic Byway Gateway Hub at the intersection of Routes 17 and 4 in Oquossoc.
“We wanted to consider how we handle stormwater especially as we change the grading and landscape areas,” Maggio said. “One of the easiest ways to do this is by looking at where it makes sense to send stormwater to areas that will allow water to infiltrate and replenish groundwater aquifers and not cause future damage to existing and new infrastructure.”
Maggio added lighting plays a critical role, especially for people navigating the sites.
“Rangeley is very close to being designated as a Dark Sky Community,” Roach said. “So, any lighting that goes in, it would be great if it was compliant.”
Other comments from residents included: using large rocks as natural features, focusing on a natural planting design, utilizing a wetland area as an intentional pollinator area that could double as an educational opportunity, and not paving or curbing the back parking area of the Depot Street lot.
Another commenter asked about cleaning up a ditch, shown as the middle island area on the Oquossoc lot conceptual plans. The area is technically a wetland, Wallace said.
“There are some permitting implications to impacting that particular wetland,” Wallace said. “DEP and Army Corp of Engineers would be the regulatory agencies that would be the authorities having jurisdiction over these wetlands. Basically, what we found when we did the research is that DEP sees wetlands within the shoreland zoning area as wetlands of special significance. There are certain permitting requirements that are required to impact those wetlands. The problem with the timeline of the project is permitting review timelines have been tending to take anywhere from three to six months. Trying to avoid disturbing wetlands would benefit the scheduled of this project.”
Maggio said it could be worth at least having a conversation with the permitting agencies to see what could be done to the area.
“If you can’t mitigate that area then the whole esthetics of that facade is affected,” Selectman Keith Savage said. “I think the practicality of that parking area is then, in my opinion, voided at that point. It would be nice to at least define the wetlands, clear it and put in some kind of weir system or retaining pond.”
Engineers will use the information and comments gathered at the meeting to prepare a draft design to bring back to the town for another public hearing in May. Once final plans are designed, with specifications and estimates, the project will go out to bid. It is anticipated construction will take place in 2026.
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