Senator Collins Tours Road Improvement Project in Augusta

Press Release

Augusta, ME -- Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined Governor Janet Mills, MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note, and Augusta Mayor Mark O'Brien to review planned safety improvements to a crash-prone segment of Bangor Street in Augusta.

"Poor road designs can create hazardous conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists alike," said Senator Collins. "Bangor Street in Augusta has been the site of numerous crashes over the past two decades, causing multiple serious injuries and a fatality. As a leader of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I am working to secure funding for this project, which aims to transform this dangerous corridor and make it safer for all travelers."

"We want to make sure that Maine people, whether they are driving, walking, or bicycling, are able to do so safely on downtown roads, like Bangor Street in Augusta," said Governor Mills. "Improving the design of this street will be a big step forward in that effort. I thank Senator Collins for her ongoing work to secure the funding that will make it happen and applaud the entire Maine Congressional Delegation for their effort to improve Maine's infrastructure."

"Transportation investments lead to tangible benefits for everyday life in Maine," said Commissioner Van Note. "The addition of the third bridge in Augusta (Cushnoc Crossing) and the Route 3 connection to I-95 many years ago greatly reduced traffic volumes in the Bangor Street area. That past investment and extraordinary funding today will allow us to now design this road to work on a pedestrian scale and make the Bangor Street area a vibrant place where people can safely meet, walk, bicycle, shop and do business."

This project will convert a four lane, mile-long section of Bangor Street in Augusta to two travel lanes and a center turning lane. The redesigned roadway will maintain traffic flow through the corridor and increase safety for turning vehicles. Measures to better protect pedestrians and bicyclists include wider shoulders that will give bicyclists more room and shorter crossing distances for pedestrians. Pedestrian refuge islands will be added, including around Cony Circle, to further enhance pedestrian safety. Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons will also be placed at crosswalks.

As the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins secured $4.8 million in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation Appropriations bill to support this project, which was requested by the City of Augusta and MaineDOT.

Since 2003, there have been 17 pedestrian crashes on Bangor Street -- one was a fatality and three resulted in serious injuries. In that same period, there have been 10 bicycle crashes -- one resulting in a serious injury.

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