Ayers Island traffic flow concerns aired

ORONO – Island Avenue traffic figured as a concern among residents and council members at a workshop Tuesday night for the proposed research and development park on Ayers Island.

The workshop was geared toward presenting the recent studies about the 62-acre island for public discussion.

Sandy Duchesne from the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System addressed some of the concerns with a presentation of past traffic and accident counts. Traffic counts reflected daily car trips on Island Avenue both when Striar Textile Mill was operating on the island and without the business.

“I’m not sure how many trips a new development will generate, but this can be considered a low-volume road,” Duchesne said.

Duchesne also discussed the possibility of creating alternate throughways to Ayers Island slightly south of Island Avenue. One option involved extending Sunrise Road through the Lane Construction property. The option would require taking the land by eminent domain and relocating the company.

A second option would involve constructing a new roadway off Sunrise Road and around Lane Construction, although Duschesne said there would be safety issues with having a road so close to the company.

Some residents expressed a need to construct an alternate route because of the steep grade on Island Avenue. The two trucks the Striar Mill used to operate caused a noticeable problem during the winter when they lost control, according to Alan Hutchinson.

“Even with a little snow on the road, they would be slipping and sliding all over the place,” Hutchinson said. “When a truck is on that hill, you pull over and let them pass.”

George Markowsky, the University of Maine professor developing the island, wasn’t thinking business on the island would necessitate an alternative route for trucks.

“We’re not planning to have truck Olympics on Island Avenue,” Markowsky said. “We’re talking about occasional trucks. I’d hate to see the town spend money on something that’s really not necessary.”

In another presentation, Andrew Nelson discussed the marketing and feasibility study conducted by Pierce Atwood Consulting. Nelson described plans for the island in three phases.

Nelson said the development would start with precision manufacturing and associated office space and later incorporate more research-oriented businesses.

“This project hinges tightly on relationships with the university and technologies that can come to the market through the university,” Nelson said.

Council member Nick Houtman discussed the work of the Ayers Island Task Force in studying the town’s land use ordinance. Houtman, who served as the committee’s chairman, said the task force seemed to come to a consensus about the research and development focus for the island, although members had differing opinions on the commercial and retail angle of the island.

A second workshop for further discussion will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, in council chambers.