We’re all in favor of the state spending highway construction dollars in Lewiston-Auburn.
After all, L-A and Western Maine have long been unfairly penalized by our location on a toll road compared to towns along the I-295 corridor.
Still, in these lean times, we’re left scratching our heads over a Turnpike Authority proposal to spend an estimated $29 million in 2015 to improve the ramps on the Lewiston interchange.
The MTA plans to spend $4 million on the Auburn exit, which seems about right. That interchange is clearly in need of a face-lift and reconstruction of the tight spiral that has resulted in numerous truck rollovers.
But the Lewiston interchange seems functional. It works.
If we looked objectively at all of the crumbling roads and sidewalks in Lewiston-Auburn, would spending $29 million on this exit really be our top priority?
Of course, this is all still in the preliminary stages. At this point, however, we’re not seeing a $29 million problem.
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