06/11/09

Paving, road maintenance projects announced for June, July

Public Works Director Robert Malley has announced several paving and road-maintenance projects scheduled for June and July.

The department is planning road maintenance and paving projects for sections of Sawyer Road, a section of Wells Road and some parking lots on the High School campus, Malley said.

Part of the Sawyer Road project, extending from Eastman Road to the South Portland line, may begin as early as next week. "The pavement condition is very poor and all we are doing is applying a thin layer of mix so we don't have to go over and keep filling potholes two to three times per month," Malley said. The shimming will improve the ride slightly and make it easier to scrape snow and slush during the winter months, he said. "It will hold the road together until we can undertake a more permanent reconstruction at some point in the future," Malley said.

Sawyer Road from Fickett Street to the vicinity of No. 184, approximately 150 yards north of Cross Hill Road, is scheduled for what Malley called a "mill and fill" treatment during the later part of July. It is the same process used on Route 77 last month."We plan to mill off 1.25-1.50 inches of pavement and then apply a new layer of the same thickness," Malley said. "This allows us to maintain the existing elevations and curb reveal, while at the same time returning the original cross slope to the road."

This section of road was completely reconstructed in 1989, so the base gravel is good material, Malley said. "Once complete we should get another 20 years of pavement life," he said. The work should take three-four days, weather permitting.

Wells Road from Sawyer Road to No. 57 will be shimmed and overlayed with new pavement. This work will be scheduled with the Sawyer Road shimming work.

McAuley Road, from No. 29 to the intersection of Lydon Lane, is scheduled for a shim and overlay, along with the entrance to the Recycling Center (Dennison Drive).

Four parking lots on the High School campus will be paved the week of June 22. That work will be coordinated with Community Services as the target date approaches.