ORLAND, Maine — In response to Orland community members’ feedback brought up at the Feb. 12 public hearing at the Orland Community Center, the Maine Department of Transportation has recently amended plans for the four-way intersection at Route 1 and School House/Upper Falls Roads in Orland.
About 50 community members, Orland Select Board members and State Rep. Steven Bishop, attended the original hearing. At the event, residents offered concerns, comments, suggestions and some praise regarding meeting face-to-face about the issue. Public outcry covered accidents, backed-up traffic, long waits to turn, sun/environmental hazards, speed of drivers, slope, steepness and visibility.
The high number of crashes — 22 crashes from the beginning of 2024 through the end of 2025 — is what led Orland selectmen and Bishop to ask for an in-person public hearing with state transportation officials.
The Department of Transportation’s initial proposal recommended replacing the existing flashing beacons with a fully actuated traffic signal. Also, installing signals on wood poles and span wire, new luminaries on top of the poles, but no changes to the roadway pavement.
According to Aurele Gorneau II, a department project manager, this high-crash intersection will not get a roundabout as many community members advocated, but there are some modifications to the state’s original proposal.
During an interview on May 8 with River Observer, Gorneau said, “we are still developing the plans, but the intent is to remove the climbing lane that goes up the hill toward the intersection on the approach from Bucksport to Orland.” A shoulder will remain there, according to Gorneau.
Due to comments made at the public hearing, Gorneau said, in order to inform drivers, “we are going to paint chevrons along the climbing lane to designate that it is not a travel lane.” Additionally, “we will add rumble strips at the white line — the lane line — on the shoulder side.”
Will this be enough to deter drivers from passing in the non-travel lane? Especially for those accustomed to the current configuration? No one knows.
Since the February hearing, there has been at least one serious crash at the intersection according to select board members.
According to Gorneau the timeline for the intersection project is scheduled to begin early spring 2027, with an expected completion in winter 2027. Gorneau hopes to share more details with the town and the Orland Select Board about design when that information is available.
