Maine Local Roads Updates

[Sobiecki, Tammy]

Good morning,


  *   Workshops are underway.  We have completed 5 of 19 Work Zone, Gravel Roads & Road Fundamentals classes.  To see what we're offering, please visit:  https://www.maine.gov/mdot/events/#events2


  *   I still have room at the following:
WZTC - all but South Portland
Gravel Roads - all but Standish
Road Fundamentals - Presque Isle ONLY
Traffic School - FULL


  *   Maine APWA's annual Spring Conference at the Augusta Civic Center:  This is a half day conference on April 3, 2025, 8am-1pm.  See link for the agenda & registration.  There will be discussion about Pavement, Municipal Stream Crossing grant  & workforce development, as well as a comedian & shotgun raffle:  MCAPWA's Annual Spring Conference<https://www.memun.org/Training/mcapwas-annual-spring-meeting>.  We will also be recognizing a few Road Scholars!
  *   The University of Maine's Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center has recently updated their comprehensive A Survey of Municipal Winter Road Maintenance in Maine<https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mcspc_transport/14/>. It's interesting reading.  You may also be interested in their podcast on Road Salt and Maine entitled Winter Roads, Salt and the Slippery Slope which is part of the MCS Policy Center's podcast series:  Maine Policy Matters<https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/>.
  *   Road Postings - if you have not seen this 16 minute video on Springtime road posting, you should view it.  Video on posting roads<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_bXdznMgwk>.  It explains the importance of posting and the correct steps and practical aspects of restricting vehicles.  It has been endorsed by MMA and the State Police. We took the time to make this video for education purposes as a result of a LD 261 from early 2019 which would've diminished local authority on posting for weight. The "balancing act" between protecting road investment with allowing local commerce to pass can be difficult. This video tries to get more consistency across the state and point people toward the MMA ordinance, be practical, and be considerate of the road users in Maine.
  *   Has or will your town post roads soon?  Do any of those roads cross into an adjacent town that may not be posted by that town?  We have orange signs that will help to better inform the drivers of heavy vehicles before they get to your towns, or the adjacent town's posted road.  They will look just like your current bright orange "Heavy Load Limited" signs but say "POSTED ROAD....... "x" MILES AHEAD"  You fill in the "x". We are offering up to 4 to any requesting town for FREE if you let us know soon.
  *   If you want a better way to decide when to post and when to remove postings, you can refer to this page:  https://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/industry/roads/<%20https:/www.nrcc.cornell.edu/industry/roads/>   This changes daily so look for the areas that exceed 25 (brown and yellow). These are the areas where postings should exist where applicable. Click on the "Forecast Days" to see how thawing or freezing is projected to change based on the current weather forecasts.
  *   Do you want to list your posted LOCAL ROADS on MaineDOT's Posted Road Website? -  MaineDOT has last year's information from several municipalities. Please let Cliff Curtis at Clifton.curtis at maine.gov<mailto:Clifton.curtis at maine.gov> know if there are any changes. We invite other towns to contribute their information.  Please send a Word doc with the listed roads and a contact name and number (we cannot use screen shots or faxes).  Here is a link to the municipal Posted Roads<https://www.maine.gov/mdot/postedroads/>
  *   The Maine "Highway Congress" in Skowhegan is happening on June 5.  More info coming soon.
  *   Local Road Assistance figures are not available yet for this year but the total will probably be about the same as last year.  All info is here: LRAP<https://www.maine.gov/mdot/csd/lrap/>
  *   Winter salt........as a courtesy, I have contacted all Maine communities who might want to inquire about bid prices under a State contract.  PLEASE RESPOND BY FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH.
  *   We still have a few of our popular wall calendars for CY 2025. If you want one or two, please let me know.
  *   MaineDOT's new 2025 Work is now on the DOT website as found here  MaineDOT 3-Year Work Plan<https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ad71c15c352442599f347e574ebc08f1>.
That's all for now.  Let us know if you have any questions!

Tammy Sobiecki/Pete Coughlan
Maine Local Roads Center
Tammy.sobiecki at maine.gov<mailto:Tammy.sobiecki at maine.gov>
207-624-3263
207-592-3371

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