MDOT’s multiplied lies on widening U.S. Route 1

How many versions of a lie are there? Back in 2002, Maine Department of Transportation started making comments regarding the widening of Route 1 through the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge as the result of building a third international bridge in Calais. Here are a few of those statements, the first three in letters to me, and the fourth in MDOT’s Jan. 6, 2006, re-evaluation of their December 2001 draft environmental assessment:

. “There will be no need to widen Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR until the year 2030 and even well beyond.”

. “We have no short, intermediate or long-term plans to widen Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR.”

. “Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR will not require widening for at least 30 years.”

. “Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR will not require widening in the foreseeable future, 20 years.”

The traffic projections of both Maine DOT and New Brunswick DOT reflect that with a third bridge in Calais, Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR must be widened.

The East-West highway traffic from Canada that will start crossing the third bridge the day it is opened for traffic will demand that Route 1 through the Moosehorn be widened.

Common sense – for whatever it is worth today – informs us all that with a third bridge in Calais, traffic through the Moosehorn NWR will increase. Yet, as recently as April 11, MDOT was quoted as saying: “The addition of this bridge will not bring an increase in traffic through the refuge.” Folks, this is MDOTs “big lie” that resulted in the permits that allowed them to “start” bridge construction in Calais. Is this what the “American Way” has come to?

If the rule of law still applies in America, the court will dole out justice to the public that has been denied by MDOT and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Finally, the purpose of Friends of Magurrewock is not and never has been to have this third bridge built in Baileyville. We are, in fact, a group of concerned citizens dedicated to the cause of having this third bridge built at a location, any location, where its construction will never require Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR to be widened into a 4-lane highway. The only reason we say the third bridge belongs in Baileyville is because Baileyville is the only alternative location to Calais that Maine DOT and the Corps of Engineers has left us to choose from and it is certain that a third bridge in Baileyville will never result in widening Route 1 through the Moosehorn NWR.

In closing, we ask the public: Whether Route 1 is widened in five, 10 or even 25 years, will the damage to the Moosehorn NWR, the Magurrewock wetlands and nesting eagles be any different?

William Szirbik is a member of Friends of Magurrewock