On April 4th, the City of Biddeford announced that it would start construction on Elm and Hooper Street on April 14th to install storm drains and storm-safe sewer systems. The construction was mandated by the D.E.P. (Department of Environmental Protection) and E.P.A. (Environmental Protection Agency).
The project is part of the City of Biddeford’s ongoing sewage separation process. Previously, the city used a single-pipe sewer system that channeled storm water and sewage through the same pipe. The new system will have separate pipes, one for stormwater that will feed directly into the Saco River, and another for wastewater that will be sent for treatment. The outdated water mains in this corridor will also be replaced as part of this effort.
“The construction in Biddeford is honestly getting ridiculous. I understand that it probably needs to happen, but does it need to be done during the busiest travel hours in a day? It’s adding 20 minutes to my drive to class, and traffic keeps getting backed up multiple blocks,” said Tika Rank, a junior medical biology major at UNE.
The City of Biddeford stated in their Elm Street Official Project Overview that they would not be having the construction crew work overnight, considerably lengthening the project. The website stated, “…This work is being completed in a residential area and the sounds of construction would likely be disruptive to sleep. It is significantly more expensive to complete overnight construction, and it is also less safe for crews.”
The project will have four main phases. The first major phase was April 14th – May 2nd, and addressed the section of Elm Street that connects to Main Street all the way to Center Street. Phase two runs May 5 – July 23 and will be on the stretch of Elm from Diamond Street to Thornton Avenue. Phase three runs from July 24 to October 31, addressing Elm from Thornton Avenue to Main Street. The final fourth phase will last from August to October, with a second crew who will work exclusively on Hooper Street.
The official end date for the project, as released by The City of Biddeford, is November, though no specific date has been stated. Several detours have been set up to route around construction, an official map of which has been released by the City of Biddeford.
During the eight months of construction, businesses will stay open, though many are already seeing decreases in traffic. Detours will make sure that businesses remain accessible during construction, but traffic and parking will be impacted. The BSOOB bus lines will also remain running, though general travel times will all be lengthened due to the construction.
Commuter students, faculty, and staff have already begun to feel the impacts of the construction as normally short commute times are extended, and stop-and-go traffic has become a new normal for Biddeford.
