Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

Trail project spanning river receives OK

By Scott Monroe smonroe@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

WINSLOW -- After a yearlong delay, a new pedestrian-walkway project will soon be built connecting to the Two Cent Bridge over the Kennebec River.

But it won't be illuminated by lampposts at night, despite safety concerns from some residents and town officials.

The Town Council on Monday night approved a $225,000 construction bid from the firm Nitram Inc., of Benton, to complete the long-standing work, which would be the most visible example of recent efforts by Winslow and Waterville officials to enhance the riverside area for the public.

"The benefit is going to be -- it will be provide a suitable and comfortable biking and walking path, and even for people who have mobility issues, to be able to go from Winslow into Waterville, and vice versa," said Town Manager Michael Heavener. "It should be a very appealing project for both communities."

In a 4-3 vote, however, councilors opted not pay an extra $14,900 to install 13 lampposts along the short path. Voting for the proposal without lights were Catherine Nadeau, Gerald Saint Amand Jr., Roland Michaud and Paul Manson; voting against the motion were Ray Caron, James Byrne and Chairman Steve Russell.

All told, the project is estimated to cost $290,900, including engineering and other expenses. Federal funding is covering 80 percent of the expense and the local cost is the remaining 20 percent, or about $21,280.

Construction could start in the late spring or early summer and the path would be finished by the end of July.

The 1,000-foot paved bicycle and pedestrian trail would run from the walking bridge to the base of Scott Park, adjacent to the Town Office, and run up to Benton Avenue and connect with the sidewalk.

"It's designed with a couple of beautiful areas, bench areas, overlooking the river on the west side of the park," said John Giroux, Winslow's public works director.

Still, some councilors and residents on Monday night questioned the project's need in light of tough economic times.

"Here we are cutting town and school budgets and we are spending more than $200,000 on a new trail?" said Byrne. "I mean, where the heck's this money coming from? At times like this, it baffles me."

Saint Amand said the project addresses a "decades-old" problem of connecting pedestrians to downtown Waterville and Winslow, though he said spending extra for lighting would be unnecessary.

"This would be a great thing for future generations," Saint Amand said.

Town officials had hoped to complete the walkway last year, but the project got delayed over confusion with the Maine Department of Transportation over how to seek bids for the work, according to Giroux.

Even so, the "technical difficulty" that caused the delay worked to the town's benefit, Giroux said, "because the bid prices came in lower than they did last fall -- a good 20 percent lower." The project eventually attracted eight bidders, he said.

The nonprofit organization Kennebec-Messalonskee Trails, which asked the town government to pursue funding for the path, has agreed to pay up to half of the project's local costs.

On the other side of the Kennebec River, the city of Waterville is also planning pedestrian improvements to the Two Cent Bridge and where it connects to Head of Falls.

Scott Monroe -- 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com