By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES— The constructionproject near Naples’ one and only traffic signal was cutting edge.

Literally and unintentionally, it was cutting edge.

Part of the re-construction at the intersection of Route 302 and 35 called for a pork chop shaped island that was designed to deter drivers from turning left out of the Umbrella Factory Supermarket parking lot. 

It did deter drivers. That’s because the curbing on the island was sharp and it slashed the tires of vehicles coming in contact with the curb. 

Naples Town Manager John Hawley reported on the latest development of the intersection upgrade project that was partially funded by the Maine Department of Transportation (MEDOT).   

The promising news is that the project should be wrapped up this autumn and also it should be completed under budget.

“The original budget was $1.3 million; and to date we have expended $847,535, leaving us with a balance of $522,465,” Hawley said.

He clarified that bills are still coming in, and that the remaining balance of $522,465 is not the amount that the project is under budget. But it was a relief to be financially ahead of the construction costs. 

He talked about the one design flaw with which the town had to deal.

“We had to remove and redesign the pork chop island at the exit of the Umbrella Factory as the new curbing was cutting tires when people were getting too close and still trying to turn left when exiting,” Hawley said. “The new curbing is a lower profile with slope edges; and although it will not prevent people turning left, hopefully it will deter them.”

It cost the town $9,000 to remove the pork chop island, he said. 

“It was worth not having either the property owner or the town deal with the multiple complaints of vehicle damage,” Hawley said.

Plus, removing the island means a plow truck won’t have to maneuveraround it.

“The original design would have also made it very difficult for snow-clearing operations,” Hawley said. 

The island issues were one of the few problems with which that the town had to deal. It seems the project will be wrapped up this fall.

“At this point most of the work is completed with the construction” of the Route 302-35 intersection, Hawley said. 

“The only remaining items include: installing the mast arm for the traffic signals, installing the thermal detection for the traffic signals, installing the pedestrian crossing poles and signals, and finishing the landscaping,” he said. “The traffic signal mast may be here by the end of November and at that time, the control box will be installed that also controls the new sidewalk lighting that has already been installed.”