MAINE:E-W Hwy Group Wants Expert

The Maine East-West Hwy Assoc wants to hire a technical consultant for 3 to 6 months. The Association is spearheading moves for toll roads Bangor east to St Stephen New Brunswick and west from Pittsfield or Waterville on I-95 toward Quebec, either via Coburn Gore to Sherbrooke direct on a quite new alignment or via US-2 and NH and VT. (TRnl#30 Aug88 p1) It has already succeeded in getting local and state government support for $0.7m worth of studies and gained good publicity and support. Sandy Blitz tells us the association has the money to put on staff for three to six months a veteran of this stage of the highway project study and planning process.

Blitz wants the association to be in a position to quickly make an expert appraisal of the studies likely to be released in the spring and to follow through on them. Wilbur Smith is doing toll finance studies in a contract with the Maine DOT, which has in-house staff working on a report on alternative corridors and alignments. RKG of Durham NH is leading three groups studying economic impacts. Three sets of studies will be published in the period Feb through May, it appears.

The ME-W Hwy Assoc wants someone familiar with state and federal authorities and their procedures and who can cast a critical and constructive eye over the paper as it emerges, and help formulate responses and new initiatives. Anyone interest in such a cool summer job in Bangor Maine could call Sandy Blitz tel 207 990 3109.