Lewiston Planning Board backs bridge bypass, reviews downtown street safety plans

The Lewiston Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend the city purchase 1.44 acres from Pathway Vineyard Church to build a bypass for the deteriorating Jordan Road bridge. The board also reviewed a comprehensive safety and mobility study for downtown corridors, which proposes road diets, protected bike lanes, and signal changes to improve pedestrian safety.

Key points

• The board approved a favorable recommendation to the City Council for the $35,000 acquisition of land at 9 Foss Road to construct a road bypass.
• City Engineer Jeff Bowley explained that the bypass is significantly more cost-effective than replacing the bridge, which has eroding abutments and requires frequent closures during floods.
• Tool Design Group presented a study for Main, Canal, Lisbon, and Sabata Streets, recommending the removal of slip lanes and the implementation of protected bike lanes.
• Public comment highlighted concerns about 18-wheeler traffic at the Ash and Lisbon intersection and the need to coordinate with the school department regarding future use of a building at 27 Main Street.
• The board discussed the placement of bike lanes relative to parking, noting that factors like driveway visibility and snow maintenance will influence final design decisions.

Next steps

• The City Council will consider the Planning Board's recommendation for the land acquisition.
• Staff will coordinate with the school department regarding pedestrian needs at the Sabata and Main Street intersection.
• Tool Design will finalize the safety and mobility study report, incorporating public feedback and traffic modeling data.

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