State releases alternative routes to landfill

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BREWER – The proposed solid waste transportation route to the West Old Town Landfill, which has caused considerable concern with residents along the path, is no longer the only route.

The Maine Department of Transportation has released four alternative routes, said Assistant State Traffic Engineer Steve Landry.

“It should make it so the trips are not as obvious by spreading them out and diluting them to different areas,” he said.

The state is in the process of purchasing the West Old Town Landfill from Georgia-Pacific Corp. as a financial incentive to help maintain jobs at the company by lowering operating costs. The state signed a formal agreement with G-P in November, with a $25 million price tag, to acquire and operate the landfill.

The original proposed route would take southern Maine waste from Pine Tree Landfill in Hampden, where it is currently dumped, to Bangor and then across the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge to Brewer on main roads. Once in Brewer, the trucks would head north on Route 9 through Eddington, then take Route 178 to Bradley and Milford and then cross the river to Old Town.

The West Old Town Landfill is located west of I-95, between exits 52 and 53, just south of Alton.

Three of the alternate routes take the trash to Old Town on roads west of the Penobscot River.

“Truckers would be permitted to select from among the routes,” a Brewer press release states. “In return, the city of Brewer will withdraw its request for Board of Environmental Protection jurisdiction over the landfill permit application, which was focused solely on traffic and safety concerns related to the proposed haul route.”

Brewer officials have been vocal in their displeasure of the original proposed route since finding out the route would use 100,000-pound trucks on North Main Street. Through negotiations with Gov. John Baldacci’s staff, Brewer reached an agreement to find the alternative routes.

“This is a victory for the citizens of Brewer, as well as our entire region,” Brewer Mayor Michael Celli said. “This decision protects the interests of the citizens of Bangor, Brewer, Eddington, Bradley and Old Town.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the state will not designate a preferred haul route for the trash through Brewer. Brewer believes this compromise is a victory.

“We’re convinced with the five route options most haulers will look to avoid downtown Bangor and Brewer,” said Brewer Economic Director Andrew “Drew” Sachs. “Which means, from our prospective, a lower number of trucks.”

City Manager Steve Bost praised the governor for listening to Brewer’s concerns.

“When push came to shove, the governor came down on the side of our citizens and our communities on the haul-route issue,” he said. “For that we are very appreciative.”

The five routes are a perfect way to address traffic issues, Landry said.

“Trucker may take different routes depending on the time of day or time of year,” he said. “What’s best during a weekday may not be the best route on the weekend. It all depends on where they are coming from. If they’re coming from the west side of the river they’re probably not going to go to the east side of the river.”

DOT alternate haul routes

Here are the haul routes, which were provided by Steve Landry from the Department of Transportation:

Alternate 1

. From Hampden take Route 202 north and turn left onto Mecaw Road, right onto Perry Road, right onto Town Farm Road, then left onto Main Street in Bangor, head north along Main Street, right onto Railroad-Summer Street and right onto the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge into the city of Brewer, then a left off of the bridge onto North Main Street in Brewer, continue northward and then turn left onto Route 178 in Eddington, turn left onto Route 2 in Milford, a right onto Water Street in Old Town, a right onto Route 43 and onward to the landfill on Route 16.

Alternate 2

. From Hampden take Route 202 north and turn left onto Mecaw Road, right onto Perry Road and right onto Town Farm Road. Then left onto Main Street in Bangor, head North along Main Street, right onto Railroad-Summer Street, straight onto Washington Street, right onto the Penobscot River Bridge into the city of Brewer, then a left off the bridge onto North Main Street in Brewer, continue northward and then turn left onto Route 178 in Eddington, turn left onto Route 2 in Milford, a right onto Water Street in Old Town, a right onto Route 43 and onward to the landfill on Route 16.

Alternate 3

. From Hampden take Cold Brook Road into Hermon, Odlin Road into Bangor to Hammond Street, Hammond Street onto State Street (Route 2) and follow through Veazie and Orono into Old Town, onto Route 43 and onward to the landfill on Route 16.

Alternate 4

. From Hampden take Route 202 north and turn left onto Mecaw Road, right onto Perry Road and right onto Town Farm Road, then left onto Main Street in Bangor, head north along Main Street, right onto Railroad-Summer Street, straight onto Washington Street, straight to Hancock Street and right onto Route 2, then to Route 43 and onward to the landfill on Route 16.

Alternate 5

. Another possible haul route is to turn left from Route 202 in Troy onto Route 220, follow Route 220 north through Detroit, turn left onto Route 100 in Palmyra, straight onto Route 7-11 in Newport, Follow Route 7-11 into Corinna, bear right in Corinna onto Route 11-43 through Exeter, Corinth, Hudson and into Old Town, then turn left onto Route 16 to the landfill.