By Suzanne Hodgson

Staff Writer

Maine Department of Transportation may own some roads in Kennebunkport, but it’s the townspeople who have to drive on them each day.

That’s the thought that drove a recent discussion among Kennebunkport’s Board of Selectmen to use town funds to repave state-owned roads.

Selectmen unanimously passed a proposal March 11 to repave Pearl Street, South Street and Pleasant Street, all town-owned roads. A vote on repaving state-owned Spring Street, School Street, Maine Street and North Street has been tabled until paving season begins in six weeks and when more selectmen are in attendance.

The $26,600 estimated cost to repave the three town-owned roads will come from a $590,0000 surplus in the road paving projects fund. Voters approved the paving funding last year.

“We’re talking about whether or not to do some significant repair work on some roads that are state responsibilities in the town,” said Town Manager Larry Mead.

Mead said he did not think the town had used funds to pay for state road repairs in the past.

“The lesser-traveled roads the state has responsibility for (got) put further on the back burner.  They’re not high priorities, they’re not priorities at all,” Mead said.

Selectman Sheila Matthews-Bull asked if the town could later reclaim funds spent on state road repairs when the state had more money.  

Rep. Alan Casavant (D-Biddeford), who was at the meeting, said that did not seem likely.

The four state-owned streets would cost approximately $166,000 to repave, including any other cleanup work necessary to bring the roads up to better driving condition.

“School Street and Maine Street are quite bad,” Mead said. 

Mead also said if the Maine Department of Transportation does come in and repave the roads, it will be according to state specifications. That has included widening roads.

“If we decide to wait and let them pay for it, there may be a significant difference in what people are used to,” Mead said.

Sections of Kings Highway also will be paved this summer. The $250,000 project also will include elevating one section to alleviate flooding.

While there are other roads in the town that also need paving, sewer pipe construction along Kings Highway makes this summer a good time to pave, said Mead

For now, discussion in the town regarding state-paving projects will resume in the next six weeks, before paving starts, but selectmen will continue to hear about these roads from the public.

“All I know is the complaints we’re getting about roads are these roads,” Mead said.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.