NORRIDGEWOCK — While upgrades to the pavement on the runways at Central Maine Regional Airport are on the way over the next year, other construction projects there are facing delays due to rising costs and inflation.

Members of the Select Board recently were given an update on the ongoing project to fix the cracked pavement across the airfield as well as other projects that are on hold.

Town Manager Richard LaBelle recently met with officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Maine Department of Transportation about the capital projects. Those meetings, LaBelle said, are held periodically to set goals and plan the timing and funding of projects.

“A top priority for the airport in the next year will be to complete crack-sealing and pavement markings across the entire airfield,” LaBelle said.

At the meeting, the group looked at all ongoing projects at the airport, including taxi-lane reconstruction on the north side, which has been delayed by a year due to funding. The preliminary cost estimate is $740,000. In order to remain the most cost-effective, Maine DOT and FAA have suggested that airport administrators plan to design, permit and reconstruct the taxi lanes during the 2024 season.

When complete, the project will enhance access for 25 hangars, of which winter weather and spring thaw have a structural impact.

Of all the projects impacted by the increase in construction costs and inflation, LaBelle added that the reconstruction of Runway 3/21, a cross-wind runway, has been the greatest victim. This project was estimated at $4 million a year ago, but the cost is now closer to $6.5 million. Complicating matters more, the cross-wind runway is not eligible for certain funding after the FAA “tightened its funding for cross-winds, and as of now, decline to recognize this project as legitimate,” LaBelle said.

“Our airport is unique, in terms of geography, providing a remarkably central location for access to parts of our state,” LaBelle said. “There is great value in maintaining this cross-wind (runway), especially from an emergency-response perspective; and it is our hope that the FAA and the state of Maine will both fully realize this value and support the runway 3/21 runway reconstruction.”

Several agencies use this service, he added, including the Maine Forest Service and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, as well as LifeFlight.

SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

The Select Board approved a recommendation by the Tax Increment Financing Committee to allocate up to $1,000 for surveillance cameras to be placed downtown, including the riverfront.

LaBelle said that he is confident that the cost will stay under $1,000; a local business owner offered his warehouse space at Everett Tire to set up operations.

The board also finalized the decision to place the town’s temporary speed table on Stanley drive after placing two permanent ones in its place on Depot Street. Residents raised concerns that drivers may try to operate around the temporary speed table, which is a longer and wider version of a speed bump, and town officials said that they would look to place it near a fire hydrant or street lights.

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