UMaine Bike Paths Temporarily Closing for Reconstruction
ORONO — After 34 years, the University of Maine bicycle paths will temporarily close to allow for major reconstruction for approximately 11 weeks beginning May 31.
The areas of phased closures include all paved path areas from the campus to Witter Farm Road, Stillwater Avenue and Jefferson Street in Old Town. The phased closures will be organized into three sections, with individual sections each closed for three to five weeks.
During each closure period, one section of the bike path will be closed to all pedestrian and bicycle traffic to allow the work. Signs will designate path sections where detours are available. Members of then UMaine campus and surrounding communities are asked for safety reasons to respect posted signs and not use or enter any part of the bike path marked as closed.
The bike path was constructed in 1976. The reconstruction will generally replace the bike path in kind, with improvements to restore appropriate grades, drainage and wearing surfaces. Funding for the project is provided by the Maine Department of Transportation and the University of Maine.
Upon project completion, the bike path will serve for another 30 years or more without a similar interruption.
Three phased closures are planned:
– Gannett Road to Witter Farm Road, with a pedestrian/bike detour on Crossover Road to maintain access from Jefferson Street to campus.
– Witter Farm Road to the railroad bed section and railroad bed section from Stillwater Avenue, including the parking lot, to the bunker road, providing a pedestrian/bike detour on the gravel Farm Road through the farm to maintain access from Jefferson Street to campus.
– And the railroad bed section from the bunker road to Jefferson Street, with no detour from Jefferson Street, but access maintained access from the Stillwater Avenue parking lot to campus.
Questions or comments regarding the bike path reconstruction project may be directed to Jeffrey T. Aceto, assistant director of Facilities Management for Construction Administration at UMaine at (207) 581-2669, or by e-mail to jeffrey.aceto@maine.edu.
Contact: George Manlove, (207) 581-3756