The Turner Select Board is exploring options to deal with heavy trucks using County Road as a shortcut to access the Maine Turnpike in Auburn.

Google Maps lists the route as the quickest way to get to the turnpike, Town Manager Kurt Schaub said.

The options the board is considering include putting weight limits on the road to deter larger trucks from using it and signs asking truck drivers to not take the route, he said.

A recent check of Google maps showed that the route to the Auburn entrance of the Maine Turnpike from Turner Center is 31 minutes via Route 4 and 29 minutes via County Road, West Auburn Road and Hotel Road.

Schaub said he may try to reach out to Google to see if a change could be made.

Residents who live on County Road previously complained about speeding traffic, heavy trucks, more traffic and vehicles not staying on the correct side of the road. The lanes are not marked.

The board has the right to adopt an ordinance to regulate weight limits on roads, Schaub previously wrote in an email. The board made no decisions on Monday, Schaub said.

In another matter, the town now has fully engineered plans for updating Boofy Quimby Memorial Hall on Howes Corner Road. The town wants to make the interior compliant with the American with Disabilities Act

The board solicited bids and hired Dirigo Architectural Engineering of Scarborough to develop the plans. The company submitted the lowest bid for $68,025, Schaub said.

The exterior has been renovated with new siding, roof and doors, and the parking lot has been paved.

“Now we need to take care of the interior,” Schaub said, and bring it up to code, which will be expensive.

Renovations include making the restrooms accessible to individuals with disabilities. Electrical and lighting also need to be redone and a fire suppression sprinkler system needs to installed, Schaub said. They will need to have a holding tank or reservoir for water since it is not on a public water system.

The town also wants to use the hall as a substation for a firetruck. There are three bays at the hall but only one is needed, Schaub said.

He will look for funding for the renovations, including going to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to see if any congressional funds would be available.

The town has spent $400,000 to $500,000 on renovations to the building and property so far.

“We’ve continued to add to the building Reserve Fund, too, over the years. We have about $130,000 in that reserve at present,” Schaub said.  

The hall is dedicated to the late Lester “Boofy” Quimby Jr. who was 10 in 1976 when he was killed in an accident involving a drunk driver. The hall was built in 1978.