Town eyes Legislature for sign touting bridge

BUCKSPORT – Town officials will turn to the state Legislature in their effort to have a sign erected along Interstate 95 near Augusta that would provide directions to the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory.

Councilors voted Thursday to continue their efforts to have the state install the sign. The action came after Town Manager Roger Raymond and Councilor Lisa Whitney, chairwoman of the economic development committee, met with officials from the state Transportation Department, including Commissioner David Cole.

“We were able to shed some light on some misconceptions,” Whitney said. “We did not want to divert traffic away from other areas.”

Despite that assurance, however, Whitney reported that Cole maintained his view that the DOT will not install such signs. According to Whitney, he suggested the town approach the Legislature.

“It looks like the best way to go is legislatively,” she told councilors.

The commissioner also advised that the town could seek a new sign or seek a redesign of an existing sign on the interstate. He also suggested that the town piggyback the bridge and observatory with the Fort Knox Historic Site on the sign. The entrance to the observation deck atop the Prospect tower will be through Fort Knox.

The town’s economic development committee earlier this week favored moving ahead with the effort and recommended that the Town Council pursue the idea. Councilors unanimously endorsed the plan.

According to Whitney, the town will have to contact a legislator to sponsor a bill that would authorize the sign. Although town officials have discussed the issue with local legislators, state Sen. Richard Rosen, and State Rep. Kim Rosen, neither has yet been asked to sponsor the legislation, Whitney said.

The town also will continue to seek support for the bill from other legislators from the region as well as from communities and agencies in surrounding towns. Whitney said the town had received mostly positive responses from the letters it had sent out regarding the sign issue.

In addition, the town will encourage local chambers of commerce to find ways to market the bridge and observation deck, particularly at the tourism centers on the interstate. The observation deck is slated to open later this summer.