MDOT to work on Route 302 Rotary in August

Maine's Department of Transportation will perform significant
paving maintenance on the Route 302 Rotary in August after
pushing back a complete repaving project to late 2023 or 2024
in its Three-Year Plan. The rotary is among the most heavily 
traveled thoroughfares in Maine and deteriorating pavement
surfaces there have prompted public complaints.
PHOTO BY MELISSA CARTER    

By Ed Pierce
Relief for motorists using the Route 302 Rotary in Windham may finally be within sight. A crew from the Maine Department of Transportation will be in town next month to perform paving work on the heavily traveled roadway.

Earlier this year, MDOT had included complete Route 302 Rotary repaving funding in its Three-Year Work Plan with a project supposed to start in June 2023. But that paving project, which included paving work extending north 2.85 miles on Route 302 from the rotary, was pushed back by MDOT to late 2023 or in 2024.

As pavement conditions have slowly deteriorated for the rotary surface since the winter months and into the spring and summer this year, motorist complaints about the area have increased.

State Senator Bill Diamond said that he had called the MDOT and requested department representatives come out and inspect the rotary’s existing pavement and determine whether the surface could withstand another winter and sustained heavy traffic until late 2023 or in 2024.

That inspection was performed earlier this month and emergency funding for maintenance was deemed necessary to bring the rotary pavement back into MDOT standards.

Contractors will perform road maintenance that includes some repaving for the rotary in August. Funding for August Route 302 Rotary paving project will be derived from MDOT’s $15.5 million custodial maintenance account which has been set aside by the state to ensure the safety, economic opportunity, and quality of life for Maine residents.

 
What is known today as the Route 302 Rotary was first created in the 19th century as a thoroughfare for farmers to points north and south. Later the area was nicknamed “Foster’s Corner” after a nearby business called Foster Bros. & Co.

The state reconfigured the roadway in 1951 to intersect both Route 202 and Route 302 and added the rotary feature at that time.

Traffic studies conducted in recent years have shown that the Route 302 Rotary is among the most heavily traveled roadways in the Lakes Region of Maine, handling thousands of vehicles each day.

“I want to say that I’m very pleased with the response from DOT Commissioner, Bruce Van Note, who acted immediately to my request to initiate needed repairs,” Diamond said. “Work will begin next month thanks to the cooperation and leadership of Commissioner Van Note.”

The rotary repaving work in August will address current and significant road surfacing issues but complete roadway repaving for the Route 302 Rotary and resurfacing for Route 302 north of that area remain in MDOT’s Three-Year Work Plan and could be put out to bid next winter.

Motorists using the Route 302 Rotary could experience some temporary delays while the repaving work is being performed and should take this into account when traveling in the area. <