Caribou to install islands for traffic regulation

CARIBOU – State transportation officials want to install a series of islands to slow traffic at a dangerous intersection, but residents said they prefer a traffic light, according to comments made Tuesday at a public hearing.

The plan involves the intersection of North Main Street and U.S. Route 1 and the entrance to Cary Medical Center, where several bad accidents, including some fatalities, have occurred over the years.

Currently, there are two lanes each for northbound and southbound traffic. The speed limit is 45 mph.

According to Janis Piper, the project’s manager from the Maine Department of Transportation, the first priority is to convince drivers to slow down as they approach the intersection. By installing the islands and eliminating one lane in each direction, motorists will have to merge and reduce their speed, according to Piper.

In addition, oscillating and larger caution lights would be installed above the intersection, Piper said.

The department’s intention is to advertise for bids in April and begin construction in June. The estimated cost is $250,000, according to Piper.

During the three-hour hearing, city officials and others attending were more interested in having a traffic light installed.

“These islands are going to help, but I don’t believe they’re going to solve the problem,” Caribou Police Chief Arthur Gorney said during the hearing.

With people in a distressed situation preoccupied with going to the hospital, the intersection becomes even more dangerous, according to the chief. “There are near misses every day,” said Gorney. “It’s a very bad intersection.

DOT engineer Brent Bubar said the intersection did not meet the criteria, which are based on national standards, for installing a traffic light.

City Councilor Vicki Umphrey asked what would happen if an ambulance needed to gain quick access to the hospital entrance with only one lane available. Piper explained there was enough room on the shoulder for traffic to pull over. John Belanger, a former council member and Caribou resident, said building the hospital entrance at that spot degraded the concept in place when the Caribou bypass was built to link Route 1.

Traffic would be slowed on a route that is a direct connection to the St. John Valley, Belanger contended.

“You’ve taken U.S. Route 1 to the lowest common denominator all because of a driveway,” said Belanger.

As the discussion continued, some DOT officials appeared frustrated.

“We can try to fix the problem or do nothing,” said Piper. “It sounds like you want to do nothing.”

Moving the medical center’s driveway also was not seen as a remedy. Changing the entrance one way would require construction of a bridge to avoid a wetland. Placing an entrance at the other end of the hospital’s property would hinder traffic exiting Main Street and turning north, DOT officials explained.

But Caribou’s public works director, David Bell, contended that moving the entrance was a viable option if a turning lane was built in front of the hospital.

Another Caribou businessman, Michael Fitzgerald, cited the lack of visibility for motorists traveling south on Route 1 because of a slight curve just north of the intersection.

Piper said Wednesday that the comments would be reviewed and compared with the department’s initial plan to determine if any changes are required.