Mill Creek Road Closure Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts Harold Hatch Chair, Penobscot Select Board | 207- 326-9383 Bob Blunt Project Manager, VHB rblunt@vhb.com | 207-441-6980 Ciona Ulbrich Maine Coast Heritage Trust culbrich@mcht.org | 2078014058

Road Closure Set for April as Penobscot Advances Major

Safety and Habitat Restoration Project

Fully funded with no cost to the town; project will improve safety, climate resilience, and habitat connectivity on the Bagaduce River PENOBSCOT, ME — A monthlong closure of Bayview Road (Route 175) beginning April 20, 2026, will temporarily disrupt travel in Penobscot, but town officials and project partners say the fully funded infrastructure upgrade will deliver longterm benefits for transportation safety, climate resilience, and the ecological health of Mill Creek and the Bagaduce River. The project will replace a failing granite culvert with a modern, largercapacity concrete structure and raise the roadway to reduce future flooding. The work is funded entirely through state and federal grants, with no cost to Penobscot taxpayers. Spring Road Closure and Detour Plan Bayview Road will be closed for up to four weeks from April 20 – May 20, 2026, to allow safe construction and highquality installation in a sensitive tidal habitat. Traffic will be detoured via Route 199 to Route 15 and back to Route 175 toward Castine. “Many residents remember the two major storms in January 2024, when saltwater overtopped this road and forced an emergency closure,” said Harold Hatch, Chair of the Town of Penobscot Select Board. “Those storms made it clear that we needed to act — and act soon — to protect both the road and the people who rely on it.” Select Board members emphasized that the closure affects not only commuters but also emergency response, school transportation, and municipal services. “This will be a significant inconvenience for some residents, and we don’t take that lightly,” notes Hatch. “But this shortterm disruption will give us a safer, longerlasting roadway and a healthier stream and marsh system. It’s an investment in the town’s future.”

Why the Work Must Occur in Spring At public meetings, Project Manager Robert Blunt of VHB explained that the construction window is dictated by environmental considerations. “Tidal, inwater work in Maine typically has to occur between November 15 and April 15 to minimize impacts on fish and shellfish habitat, but this project received a one-month extension to that work window” Blunt said. “This schedule is the best way to meet federal and state permitting requirements while ensuring the project is built safely and correctly.” The timing will align better with seasonal warming and paving material being available, so that the roadway will likely be paved during this closure period as well. A flowing stream and tidal conditions can be maintained throughout construction, since the proposed culvert is on a new alignment. A Fully Funded Infrastructure and Habitat Project With engineering and construction costs exceeding $1 million, the project would have been out of reach for the town without external funding. Instead, a combination of state and federal grants will cover the entire cost. “Funding a project of this size would be a huge lift for a small town like Penobscot,” Hatch said. “We’re extremely fortunate to have the partnerships that made this possible. This project improves safety, strengthens resilience, restores habitat, and does it all without increasing the local tax burden.” The project qualified as a Municipal Partnership Initiative through the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), which will fund a significant portion of the work. “This partnership helps towns advance priority road projects that might otherwise sit on a waiting list for years,” said Lisa Sekulich, MDOT region engineer. “It’s a smart investment in infrastructure and community resilience.” To complete the funding package, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) secured a grant from the National Coastal Resilience Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “This is a great example of a proactive community taking on an infrastructure project with major ecological benefits,” said Ciona Ulbrich, associate director of community relations at MCHT. “The Coastal Resilience Fund exists for exactly this kind of work—projects that protect people, habitat, and infrastructure at the same time.” Community Collaboration and Educational Partnership A key component of the grant is scientific monitoring, which will be conducted by faculty and students from Maine Maritime Academy’s Corning School of Ocean Studies.

“This project engages our students in real-world coastal resilience work,” said Dr. Kerry Whittaker, associate professor of coastal and marine environmental science. “It’s a win-win: students gain valuable field training, and the town receives quality monitoring that supports long- term ecological health.” The new crossing will allow tides to move freely, accommodate higher flows during storms, and improve passage for fish and wildlife. “This is another exciting opportunity to help fish populations rebound in the Bagaduce River and the Gulf of Maine while increasing the flood security of a vulnerable roadway,” Ulbrich said. “It shows how climate resilience, conservation, and public safety can align.” Construction will be performed by Sargent Corporation of Orono, using engineering designs developed by VHB. Select Board members emphasized the extensive coordination required to prepare for the closure. “It has taken a lot of time, energy, and planning to get to this point,” Hatch said. “We’re grateful to residents, neighboring towns, emergency responders, school staff, and many others for working with us. This project only comes together because so many people are willing to do their part.”