Liberty Street, Railroad Avenue intersection to become an all-way stop
DEXTER — Drivers approaching the Liberty Street and Railroad Avenue intersection from every direction will soon have to come to a halt when it becomes a four-way stop.
The Maine Department of Transportation is redesigning the intersection to reduce crashes and improve safety because homes are nearby. Currently, Liberty Street has stop signs but Railroad Avenue drivers have the right of way to go. After the change they will be stopping as well.
A department study revealed Liberty Street has an average of 950 vehicles a day and Railroad Avenue has 940, MDOT Region 4 Regional Engineer John Theriault said during an Aug. 13 Dexter Town Council meeting. Railroad Avenue has a 30 mph speed limit. Liberty Street lacks signs, but the speed limit should be 25 mph.
“If you look at this intersection, it’s very tight,” Theriault said, because of several driveways nearby.
The intersection averages about a crash per year and most involve right angle rather than rear-end strikes, which often result in more injuries, he said.
“The solution to ending the right angle crashes is to make it an all-way stop,” Theriault said. Department studies have shown such reductions have led to fewer crashes.
The intersection will have four double-sided, solar powered signs that will flash. “Stop ahead” signs will alert drivers in advance.
Railroad Avenue is a state road, so MDOT can proceed with the changes without needing town approval.
“It’s a positive thing to do, it’s no loss,” Theriault said. “The worst case scenario is it won’t be as successful as I think it’s going to be. It’s not going to cost you anything except less accidents.”
In other business, councilors voted to send a proposed recreational vehicle occupancy ordinance back to the planning board to clarify questions on a fee schedule and enforcement methods.
The ordinance would regulate how long people can live in RVs and campers without proper sewer and water hookups. Other Maine communities have such ordinances in place.
“Without a permit fee schedule we would have a really tough time doing this,” Council Chair Marcia Delaware said.
Councilors Dan Hutchins and Adam Briggs favored a recreational vehicle occupancy ordinance, citing properties with issues the ordinance could rectify.
The council accepted a pair of grants, with the first being $59,000 from the State of Maine, Bureau of Parks and Lands for trail maintenance carried out by the Dexter Rail Riders.
The program has provided about $300,000 in grants over the last four years.
A near $2,500 safety grant for the Dexter Fire Department from the Maine Municipal Association was accepted to fund tower and guardian angel lights.
Lights with magnets can go on firefighter gear for greater visibility.
In his report, Town Manager Trampas King thanked the many volunteers who made summer events happen.
Children were able to take part in a summer camp and swim lessons last month.
The Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis held its annual Cruise-In on the first Saturday of August. In his eight years as town manager, King has been amazed at the amount of work his fellow Kiwanis members do and how much they have given back to the community, he said.
The ninth annual Maine Red Hot Dog Festival served thousands of the event’s namesake food on the previous Saturday in downtown Dexter.
The festival does not happen “without a tremendous amount of work by a tremendous amount of people,” King said.
Volunteers include residents of other towns who all come together for the community.
“Events like that don’t happen,” King said. More volunteers will be needed for future happenings.
Dexter Regional High School now has lights at the football field. The first primetime home game is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, against longtime rival Stearns High School of Millinocket (a rematch of last year’s 8-Man Small School North final which Stearns won 64-8 before going on to capture the gold ball).
Food and some activities will precede kickoff and this should help make for a great community night, King said.