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Friday, July 30, 2010
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Serving Maine and Lincoln County for over a century. |
Volume 135 Issue 30 |
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| 7/8/2009 2:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Wiscasset Traffic Information System On Rt. 1
 As part of its traveler information plan, the Maine Dept. of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be pre-alerting motorists to major congestion on Route 1 in Wiscasset as of July 1. The pilot program was tested late last summer and fall, and will be permanently implemented this summer through mid-October.
The Wiscasset Traveler Information System is designed to provide motorists with real-time traffic information for Route 1 in Wiscasset so drivers can make informed decisions concerning travel routes.
Last year the program was initially tested using a manual approach that consisted of Wiscasset Police and Lincoln County emergency services personnel making visual observations of traffic conditions and contacting the department when major delays occurred.
This year, MaineDOT has installed two solar powered radar units with web cameras to electronically monitor average traffic speeds. One unit is located at the intersection of Birch Point Road and Rt. 1 in Wiscasset and the other is at the intersection of Rts. 27 and 1 in Edgecomb.
If the radar units detect significant slowdowns, a call will be made to the MaineDOT Radio Room and personnel will activate the 5-1-1 travel information system (telephone 511 or internet at www.511maine.gov). A changeable message sign located on I-295 northbound at Dessert Road in Freeport will also be activated. The sign will flash the message "Route 1 Wiscasset/Expect Delays" for as long as the traffic is backed up to the vicinity of Birch Point Road or further south. The message will be triggered only by a major delay. Southbound traffic delay messages will be posted at the 511 sites and a Variable Message Sign located south of Rt. 27 in Edgecomb.
Viewers will also be able to see real-time images from the web cams along with the average vehicle speeds in both directions of travel by logging on to www.mainedot.gov and clicking on the web cam link next to the Wiscasset Rt. 1 Corridor Study.
MaineDOT is also asking for public comments on the new system via this website. To help ensure the system is operating well, Wiscasset police and Lincoln County emergency services personnel will again conduct visual observations of traffic and report significant delays to MaineDOT.
This project is an outcome of the Wiscasset Bypass Study, with a final decision on the bypass announced in the fall.
MaineDOT is working with the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber, the Damariscotta Region Chamber, the Bath Brunswick Region Chamber, along with Wiscasset and Lincoln County officials, on implementation of the new signage.
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