Saco staff seek council direction on size of Ferry Road culvert replacement to align permits, multimodal plans

SACO, Maine — The city’s interim public works director told the Saco City Council at a March 3 workshop that design choices for the Ferry Road culvert replacement must reflect the long-term intent for the corridor so state and federal permits match the eventual roadway width and pedestrian/bicycle facilities.

"We're in the permitting process right now," Interim Director of Public Works Travis Moore said, adding the purpose of the workshop was "to get some direction on what we look for the long term goal of that corridor, so that we can get the permitting for the correct length to begin with." Moore presented three alternatives and cost comparisons and answered questions from councilors.

Why it matters: The chosen culvert length and roadway configuration affect which state and federal reviews apply, how much wetland impact must be permitted and what property impacts or easements may be needed up the corridor toward Bayview. Choosing a larger structure now avoids the higher expense of enlarging foundations and driven piles later, Moore said.

Moore said the original design — driven by earlier direction to design a sidewalk along Ferry Road from Bayview to Seaside — called for a roughly 9-by-25-foot box culvert. The city studied two larger alternatives: a two-lane roadway with a 10-foot multi-use path (alternative 1) and a configuration with two 5-foot bike lanes plus a 5-foot sidewalk (alternative 2). Moore said larger alternatives increase the required culvert length (from 30 feet in the original scope to 39 feet for alternative 1 and 44 feet for alternative 2) and raise permitting requirements, including an Army Corps permit for wetland impacts.

Moore gave a project cost breakdown for the original scoped replacement: $750,000 for the structure, $407,000 for roadway and sidewalks, and $200,000 for storm drainage, which he said produced a grant-scoped total of about $1,357,000. He said the 10-foot multi-use path (alternative 1) would add about $128,000 over the original scope and alternative 2 would add roughly $248,600. Moore also told the council that borings at the site revealed soils that will require driven H-piles and pile caps to support the replacement, a factor that makes getting the size right now more cost-effective than expanding later.

Councilors pressed on safety and connectivity. Councilor Berman asked how painted 5-foot bike lanes would transition at the intersection and whether a separate multi-use path would provide safer separation for pedestrians and cyclists. "Tying into that would be my eventual long term goal if we can complete that project," Berman said, supporting bringing the issue to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and the traffic safety committee for public feedback.

Moore said state approval would be required for narrower 10-foot travel lanes if the corridor priority supported them, and that the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) typically allows reduced lane widths when doing so improves pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. He told councilors that painted 5-foot bike lanes at this location would have no physical barrier between cyclists and motor traffic.

On construction impacts, a resident asked if the work would require road closures and night work. Moore said the crossing replacement will require a road closure during construction but that residents would retain driveway access; he did not anticipate overnight construction but said there could be later-evening work during certain phases.

On funding, Moore said the original grant scope included a 5-foot sidewalk. Later in the meeting a city administrator stated the grant was $1,350,000 with a $100,000 local match and that alternatives would require additional local or other funding beyond the grant.

Next steps: Mayor MacPhail said staff would work with Deputy Chief Huntress to place the project on an upcoming BPAC/traffic-safety joint agenda to collect public and committee feedback before finalizing a width for permitting. Moore said the city’s consultant is urging a final width so the project can be advertised this summer for possible fall construction.

Ending: Councilors generally supported seeking BPAC and traffic safety committee feedback before locking in a final width and design. No formal council vote was taken; staff will return with committee input and permit-ready drawings as the project proceeds through funding and permitting steps.