STRONG — Residents voted Tuesday to make a dead end out of town road used as a common shortcut for drivers on U.S. Route 4.

Voters passed a plan, 54-34, to barricade the south end of Chandler Road heading toward Farmington, according to Selectman James Burrill.

People living in homes on the one-mile road asked selectmen to restrict access because they believe the residential road is now a dangerous shortcut.

Some residents complained of a steady stream of drivers speeding down the road, according to Gil Reed, a resident on the road and husband of selectman Joan Reed. He said that vehicles just missed hitting pedestrians several times.

It will take at least 60 days before the street turns into a dead end, Burrill said.

Selectmen will notify the school district, emergency response agencies and other officials who may be affected by the change, he said.

Building the concrete barricade, as well as a turn-around circle for public service vehicles, and putting up signs is going to cost taxpayers about $2,000, according to Burrill.

The plan passed during a special town meeting of about 90 residents who debated the issue for 25 minutes, he said.

Some people raised concerns about the project’s cost and a lack of time spent planning the change, Burrill said. He rejected the criticism about planning , saying the selectmen spent two months researching the proposal.

There are about 20 children who live in the 15 homes on Chandler Road, which was a dirt road before it was paved about 10 years ago, according to Reed.

Two other issues passed by a hand vote Tuesday without debate, according to Burrill.

Residents approved the town’s application for a $400,000 federal grant to upgrade the town’s water system.

They also decided to formalize the town ownership of a septic system that serves the town office, which is in the Forster Memorial Building, as well as three houses.

 

David Robinson — 861-9287

drobinson@centralmaine.com

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