RUMFORD — Drivers cutting across the property of Rumford paper mill NewPage via Veterans Street next week from Route 2 to Route 108 may want to stay on Route 2 through Mexico to avoid delays from construction on Route 108.
At Thursday night’s Rumford selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Carlo Puiia said the Maine Department of Transportation has started a project to remove ledge opposite the mill.
On Friday, a crew was busy cutting trees off the worksite, limiting traffic to one lane only on Route 108 and Veterans Street, near the intersection of both roads.
“There will be some inconveniences on that road a little bit, but I think it’s going to be well worth it,” Puiia said.
Additionally, Puiia said he learned that NewPage will soon begin removing pavement from the railroad crossing on Veterans Street to reconstruct that heavily traveled section by both the public and mill workers. Puiia and selectmen have previously asked NewPage officials to remedy the crossing, which is so rough that many drivers veer into the the oncoming lane or emergency lane to go around it.
“They’re trying to get this done before winter,” he said. “So that was good news that we got from somebody that works for NewPage.”
Puiia said he’s also written to the MDOT to get better signage at the bottom of Falls Hill on Route 2, where a tractor-trailer truck hauling a load of logs overturned on Oct. 29, seriously damaging the Frost Motor Supply building. A Rumford police officer said it was the fourth such accident that he could recall since 1994.
“There are plenty of comments where people like to snipe online and say something about it, but they don’t realize that we do do things,” Puiia said.
“So I drafted a letter very quickly and sent it to MDOT, requesting that we have better signage, and possibly some flashing lights. I requested that this action be done within 30 days because it’s a public safety issue.”
He said he isn’t sure what response he’ll get from MDOT.
In other business, the Rumford municipal building and offices will be closed on Friday, Nov. 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
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