Staff Writer

Less than a week after a Town Council vote to fully fund road and beach access work in Pine Point, construction crews are at work on the first stage of the project.

The portion of Pine Point Road between East Grand Avenue and King Street was blocked off this week as work began Monday to add sidewalks, crosswalks and narrow traffic lanes to 11 feet.

A parcel of town land between the Lighthouse Inn and Beachwalk subdivision also will be converted to an access area for Pine Point Beach. A drop-off zone large enough for two vehicles on the curve of Pine Point Road is part of the project.

The projects have been planned and discussed for at least two years, but added costs of the project and how to pay for it were fresh developments at the April 7 Town Council meeting.

What was expected to be a $170,000 project became significantly more expensive when the work was put out to bid, said Town Manager Tom Hall.

Bids from seven contracting firms for the road project ranged from the winning bid of nearly $214,000 to $288,000. Hall told councilors his initial cost estimate of $30,000 for beach access had increased to at least $95,000. The area will feature landscaped grounds, granite benches and a bicycle rack.

Hall told councilors his search for additional funds led to the discovery of $219,500 that was a part of the fiscal year 2008 capital improvements budget. The money was intended for improvements on the stretch of Broadturn Road from the Maine Turnpike overpass to the intersection with Route 1.

The money was part of a larger bond and the project was never fully undertaken, Hall said. After opening bids April 1 for the Pine Point Road project, Hall asked Public Works Director Michael Shaw to see what department money might be available.

After approving the beach access plan concept, councilors approved allocating $146,000 of the money to fully fund the roadwork and beach access project.

Work to complete the access area will take place in two stages. The first phase will require removing the asphalt surface of the former Lighthouse Inn parking area, pouring a new surface and building a rail fence. Work is expected to be completed by Memorial Day.

The additional work to install a bicycle rack, combination drinking fountain and foot-washing station, solar trash compactor and fully landscape the 13,000-square-foot area is expected to begin in the fall, Hall said.

John Thurlow, a member of Pine Point Residents Association, said news of what will be torn down was as rewarding as what will be built in the area.

Councilors added a condition that stone retaining walls used as planters for shrubs outside the Lighthouse Inn and built into the town right of way be replaced with a sidewalk.

Association members, including Judy Shirk and Arlene Hurd, have repeatedly asked councilors and Planning Board members to tear down the wall at the expense of inn owners Peter and Nicholas Truman.

Councilor Michael Wood proposed the amendment to remove the wall, in part to make the beach access project more palatable to association members. Councilors did not decide who will pay for the wall’s removal, but added money to the road work budget to build the sidewalk in its place.

 “Residents will be happy with the final outcome and funding, particularly with the removal of the encroachment,” Thurlow said.

Thurlow said he’s still rankled by the land swap between the Trumans and town, which traded 19,000 square feet once known as Depot Street for about 13,000 square feet used for parking at the inn.

“But the beach access plan is the best we can get given the circumstances,” Thurlow said.

Thurlow also praised councilors for listening to association members’ thoughts and said councilors ended up doing what was best for the community.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219