On June 13, Gorham voters approved a referendum item that authorized the borrowing and spending of up to $500,000 as the Town’s share of a road project on South Street.

The project itself is a 1 1/4” paving overlay from the Gorham Bypass, the roundabout connecting Route 114 and Route 112, to Main Street, a distance of around 2 miles. Some of the road base may be repaired if needed and some sections of the shoulder widened where necessary. The traffic signal loop detector will also be replaced.

The total cost estimate from MDOT (Maine Department of Transportation) is $1,628,148. The Town’s local share would be $407,037. The work is expected to take place during the construction season of 2018 according to Robert Betz from MDOT. Town Manager David Cole said that most MDOT projects have been exceeding their estimates (which is the reason the Main Street project was delayed) so it is possible this time frame may change.

Cole has recommended to the Town Council and they have agreed to self-fund the project because of the cost of borrowing funds and the chance of a delay in the project. The Town will save between $40,000 to $50,000 by not borrowing the money.