Alternative Decisions for Route 1 through Wiscasset (for bypass options, see If a bypass is needed...)

This section lists alternative steps to enhance the existing Route 1 road to enable traffic to travel through Wiscasset at the posted speed limits, while also permitting cross-town pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Included are steps to gather information to enable smart decision making.  Additional information about each step is available at the link.

Alternatives supported by R.O.A.D.

WEBCAMS. Installing webcams at either end of the SSZ (Seasonal Slow Zone) in Wiscasset. Other webcams already in Mid-coast area from South to North: Downtown Bath; Popham Beach; Boothbay Harbor; Boothbay Harbor (2);  Pemaquid Point;    Rockland Breakwater; Camden Harbor

TRAFFIC COUNTERS. Installing one or more permanent traffic counters in the SSZ.

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. Building a pedestrian bridge or tunnel near the railroad and Route 1 crossing.

Other Alternatives untried awaiting consideration by R.O.A.D.

- Building a Federal Street bridge over a moderately submerged Route 1. Such a bridge might be a light-controlled single lane, or two lanes. Best to implement during 2009 resurfacing of Route 1 in downtown Wiscasset.

Prohibit 3 downtown left hand turns  Prohibiting left turns off Route 1 northbound onto Middle and Water Streets and prohibiting southbound left turns off Route 1 onto Water Street.

- Installing traffic lights at both intersections of Route 1 and Route 27. Such lights would be blinking yellow and red lights for most of the year and converted to Red/Yellow/Green lights during the Seasonal Slow Periods (SSP) for the primary purpose of permitting exchanges between Routes 1 and 27 at each location.

Route 95 Signs. Installing a permanent sign and a sign with temporary messages on Route 95 in Brunswick to advise motorists of alternative ways to travel Downeast. (One sign was erected in ____? for a few days and then removed.)

Route 1 "Local Traffic" Signs. Posting signs in vicinity of Courthouse to guide northbound vehicles to downtown vicinity.

Route 1 Parking Prohibition in Downtown Wiscasset.  It isn't so much the status of parking but the act of parking that causes traffic slowdown.  Perhaps in a reversal of usual practices, the long term parkers, such as employees, could park on the street, while customers could be directed to behind-buildings parking lots.

- Increasing the speed limits to assist the flow OUT of the WSSZ (Wiscasset Seasonal Slow Zone).  The northbound limits could be increased by 5 mph at the beginning of the Davey Bridge, and the southbout limits by 5 mph at the Old Bath Road intersection.

Post Office Move.  Moving the U.S. Post Office to a new "Government Center" for Wiscasset in a new "Town Common" area behind the current Town Office between Route 27 and Churchill Street.

Other Alternatives already tried but awaiting re-consideration by R.O.A.D.

- Installing traffic lights in downtown Wiscasset to assist cross-town pedestrian and vehicular traffic. (Tried in Summer of 2001)

Alternatives which are opposed by R.O.A.D.

- Proposals for bypass routes with a new Sheepscot River bridge which fail to explicitly acknowledge the reality that the Davey Bridge would be doomed.  See If a bypass is needed.