Old Orchard Beach to make Fern and West Old Orchard avenues one way

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Fern and West Old Orchard avenues will both become one-way streets, once substantial work has been done on a sewer and road project in the area.

In July, residents approved to appropriate up to $1 million of town funds toward a water, sewer and storm water infrastructure project on portions of Washington Avenue, Fern Avenue, and West Old Orchard Avenue. The project is estimated to cost up to $2 million, and $1 million will be paid for by federal funding through a Community Development Block Grant. The water district will also be contributing funding to replace water lines.

There are water mains in the area that are more than 100 years old and water lines need to be upgraded to current standards, as well as deteriorating sewer pipes with root intrusions and shallowly-constructed sewer lines that need to be upgraded to industry standards.

The town proposed making Fern and West Old Orchard Avenues both one way, due to the narrowness of the streets and because the sidewalk needs to be extended to comply with ADA standards.

The Town Council on Tuesday voted to change both streets to one-way streets once the town manager designates construction of the project is “substantially complete.”

Under the plan, traffic will travel west on Fern Avenue from First Street to Washington Avenue and will travel east on West Old Orchard Avenue from Washington Avenue to First Street.

The project will increase sidewalks to five and a half feet wide, and utility polls and trees will be removed from the sidewalk, according to a presentation earlier this month by Town Manager Larry Mead. Both streets will have a 16 foot travel lane and an 8 foot wide parking lane. Curbing will be added to better define stormwater flow in the street down the hill toward First Avenue, said Mead.

The town has not accepted a bid on the combined water, sewer and storm water infrastructure project yet. Work is expected to begin either this year or early next year, depending on the weather.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].