9358-R3_LGP_MechanicFalls_2024AnnualReport

Public Works Road Commissioner The 2025 year was another active and demanding year for the Mechanic Falls Public Works Department. Numerous critical projects were undertaken concurrently, requiring careful planning, coordination, and sustained effort by the department’s staff. Street sweeping operations were significantly impacted this spring due to mechanical failure of the department’s sweeper. Multiple repair attempts were made both internally and by the company that services Elgin sweepers; however, due to the age of the equipment, the issue could not be diagnosed or resolved. Compounding this challenge, rental sweepers were unavailable until June. The department is actively evaluating replacement options to ensure street sweeping can be completed in a timely manner in future seasons.

Several roadway improvement projects were successfully completed during the year. On North Street, the section that was not reclaimed during the previous year was shimmed and overlaid, and a topcoat of pavement was applied to the newly reclaimed section to protect the prior investment. On Riverside Drive, two severely deteriorated sections were box-cut, and a new subbase and base coat of asphalt were installed. The department also took advantage of an opportunity to pave a particularly distressed section of Brown Road. While it is acknowledged that the entire roadway requires improvement, completing the full project was not financially feasible during this fiscal year. Additional improvements were made on Highland Avenue through close coordination with the Water

Department’s water main replacement project. Public Works removed existing asphalt and installed paved swales, allowing the excavation contractor to complete the water main installation. Once complete, the roadway was paved, and both departments collaborated to finish the new swales. The paving strategy currently being utilized has proven to be more effective than the previous five-year plan. This approach allows the department to focus on rebuilding roadways while protecting and extending the lifespan of the town’s infrastructure investments.

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