Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-05
Highway Construction
Thomaston Road

The highway program for last year
called for an expenditure of $1,650.15
on the Thomaston road. This was
one of the most pretentious programs
of state aid construction ever UNI
dertaken. The designated road was
westerly of that completed last year,
the purpose being to get a good road
from the National Home into the
city. In making the new routings,
however, the road to Thomaston
was designated, not to the right
through the Home, but straight
ahead past the Home. This strip or
road lying partly in Augusta and
partly in Chelsea was in most
wretched condition having been little
used on account of the traffic going
through the Home. AS a result OF
! the new routings, however. strangers
We're directed onto this almost i'm
passable road. We felt that such a
road was not good advertising. Not
withstanding the rather extensive
program already entered upon, good
business seemed to dictate its re-
pair. There was an organized crew
on the job. The work could be done
more cheaply then than later. 1t
was decided to undertake the work.
The state highway commission CO.
operated in every way with the re-
suit that approximately 800 feet
of probably the worst road in the
city has been converted into
splendid highway complying with all
the state requirements of a state aid
road. The result is that there has
been constructed this year $50 feet
lover two miles) of state aid road at
a total cost of $15,S44.52 and the
completed state aid road now eX-
tends from the Chelsea line westerly
to Cony road.
This act on the part of. Augusta
rendered it imperative that improve
ments should be made beyond the
Augusta line. Again the state and
our neighboring town of Chelsea CO.
operated in every way with the re-
suit that Chelsea has made substan-
tial improvement on her part of the
road and the state has designated
the eight miles of the Thomaston
road adjacent to Augusta as the road
| upon which construction shall be
done this year. This should mean
also that the road will be officially
taken over by the state as q state
road. 1t should also mean much ad-
ditional business for Augusta from
! the section served by this highway
| North Belfast Road
Another state road that has been
| giving US much concern is the North
Belfast road. The state has now TAX
en- tbs road over and substantial
construction will be done this year
| This cannot fail to be of general
satisfaction and will mean much to
Augusta in a business way.
South Retf,et Rh-d
Fifteen hundred feet or highway
extending easterly from last years
| construction was constructed on this
! road under state supervision. This
, is the only main thoroughfare into
the city that is not in excellent con-
dition or provided for in the near
future. We are noAv in a position
to concentrate efforts on this road
! and substantial amount of new
construction should be built each
year until the road is completed.
Miscellaneous Hihways
In addition to the foregoing there
has been large amount of mis-
cellaneous work. Three thousand
feet of water of water bound mae
adam was laid on Stone street This
is something of an experiment but
1t is believed that it will work out
satisfactorily for if the surface
should roughen it can be easily scar
flied and smoothed at compare
! lively small cost and will be as good
as when originally laid.
over a mile of gravel road has
been constructed within the city,
the longest stretches being on Mid
die and Cony streets.
Without the city limits a light
limo Of ~
entire length of the Spring Road. ap-
proXimately two miles. A mile of
gravel was put on the Belgrade Road.
Resurfacing was also done on the
West River and Bog Road,
Sidewalks
Following the practice OF the last
few Years, a large amount of work
has been. done on sidewalks. 1880
feet of granoiithic sidewalk has been
rut down, the largest continuous
stretch being on Bangor Street. Over
a mile (5,800 feet) of tar sidewalks
have been constructed, on Middle
Stone, Murray, Quimby, Cony and
Cedar streets. There has also been
built 2300 feet of gravel sidewalks.
Sewers
The recommendations of last year
with reference to the Whitney Brook
and Glendale Park sewers, so-called
have been carried out and both Of
|, these sewers constructed. The for
mer is an outlet sewer $50 feet long.
Because of it's size and location it
was expensive to construct. 1t has.
however, abated disa sreeable and
dangerous condition. The Glendale
Park sewer was built to accommodate
the new construction in Glendale
Park and is 1868 feet long. In all
nearly half mile (2493 feet) of new
sewer has been constructed at a
total cost of approximately $1,000.
New Equipment
Two new Ford trucks were bought
last year, one replacing truck which
had been in service for two years
and the second being an additional
truck for service on the east side
Of the river. There was also pur-
chased a new one-man Fordson
grader at a cost of $14S0. This grad
err was tested out thoroughly the
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