Courtesy / City of Augusta
A map on both the city and Downtown Alliance websites illustrates how the traffic pattern will change in downtown Augusta.
August 12, 2019
Augusta plans driver education blitz as two-way Water Street nears
Photo / Maureen Milliken
Workers last month start on making a two-block stretch of Water Street in downtown Augusta two-way after 74 years of one-way traffic. The work is on schedule to be done Aug. 19.
By Maureen Milliken
A two-way Water Street in downtown Augusta will likely become a reality next week, and the city hopes to fully prepare drivers for the change after 74 years of one-way traffic.
The work to change the traffic pattern of the two-block stretch in the heart of the downtown business district is on schedule, Nicholas Hartley, deputy director of the city's public works department told Mainebiz today. He said the change is expected to be made early next week.
"But, as with all construction, it is subject to change should weather or contractor scheduling impact work on the project," he said.
Sargent Corp., of Old Town, is doing the work, which cost about $200,000 and includes repaving, striping and new traffic signals.
To help make the change go smoothly, the city plans four message boards at approaches to Water Street, notifying drivers of the traffic pattern change, as well as an increased police presence.
Hartley said there will also be flaggers at the intersections of Commercial, Bridge and Water streets to ensure that vehicles are using the lanes correctly.
"We will be continuing our social media campaign to promote awareness for all users of the highway system, including both motorists and pedestrians," he added.
'Multitude of benefits'
The Augusta Downtown Alliance is also getting in on the excitement, including selling T-shirts that say "Water Street goes BOTH ways/Downtown Augusta."
The Alliance says the change brings a "multitude of benefits." It links studies on its website that show two-way downtowns have decreased vacancy rates, more direct access to shops and restaurants and increased exposure to business.
Studies also show two-way traffic slows cars down and increases pedestrian safety.
The work began July 30 to the stretch from Winthrop Street north to Bridge Street. Currently, southbound drivers on Water Street have to turn up Commercial Street before Bridge, or take a right on Bridge, then left on Commercial, to access the heart of downtown.
Along with the new traffic pattern, the city is adding energy-efficient LED street lights, trees and ADA-compliant crosswalks.
A more extensive $1.2 million upgrade to parallel Commercial Street, which will remain one-way southbound and includes angled parking, will begin later this year and include a wider sidewalk, road upgrades and a new parking pattern. Sargent Corp. is also the contractor on that project.
Water Street and Commercial Street were each made one-way in 1945, when the bridge on Bridge Street, at the northern end of the one-way section, was the only one over the Kennebec between Gardiner and Waterville. Traffic on U.S. Route 201, Route 3 and other roads funneled through downtown over the bridge, backing up and hampering commerce.
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