CONWAY — Expectations have certainly diminished in recent years for the long-stalled Route 16 bypass ever to be built. That was confirmed in spades last week as selectmen showed hardly any reaction to a letter from the state confirming its demise that was read aloud at their meeting by Town Manager Tom Holmes.
“I don’t think anyone has brought up the bypass issue in recent years, dating back to when Earl Sires was town manager,” said selectmen's chair David Weathers after the meeting, when asked to explain the non-reaction by the board after Holmes read the letter from state Department of Transportation Commissioner Victoria F. Sheehan concerning the long-discussed Route 16 Conway Bypass that had gotten its permit from the U.S. Corps of Engineers back in 1995.
kAmQsFC:?8 E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 a_a`\b_ %6? *62C %C2?DA@CE2E:@? x>AC@G6>6?E !=2? ]]] E96 r@?H2J qJA2DD AC@;64E H2D C6>@G65 7C@> E96 %6? *62C !=2?] ]]] p44@C5:?8=J[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E H:== 25G2?46 2 C6BF6DE E@ E96 v@G6C?@C 2?5 tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:= E@ 7@C>2==J 5:DD@=G6 E96 AC@;64E =2J@FE[Q $96692? HC@E6 :? 96C =6EE6C 52E65 $6AE c]k^Am
kAm{24< @7 7F?5:?8[ 492?86D :? EC277:4 6IA64E2E:@?D 2?5 ?@?\:?4=FD:@? :? E96 DE2E6’D `_\J62C 9:89H2J EC2?DA@CE2E:@? A=2? E9:D A2DE DF>>6C H6C6 2== C62D@?D 7@C E96 564:D:@?[ $96692? HC@E6]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 E9:D H66< E96 =24< @7 C624E:@? 42>6 3642FD6 :E H2D ?@E 2 DFCAC:D6 E@ 2?J@?6[ 8:G6? E96 =24< @7 7F?5:?8 AC@8C6DD @C @FE4C:6D :? 72G@C 7@C 2 3JA2DD :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< :E H2D 2 766=:?8 2>@?8 E96 3@2C5 @7 2 k6>m72:E 244@>A=:k^6>m EJA6 @7 E9:?8[” D2:5 w@=>6D[ H9@ DF4466565 t2C= $:C6D 2D E@H? >2?286C :? a_`f]k^Am
kAm“r6CE2:?=J E96 EC277:4 92D :>AC@G65 :? r@?H2J — H6 5@?’E D66 E96 EC277:4 E92E H6 FD65 E@[ J6E J@F =@@< 2E E96 ?F>36CD @7 A6@A=6[ 2?5 :E 92D C62==J :?4C62D65[” D2:5 (62E96CD E9:D H66<]k^Am
kAm}6G6C 2 AC@A@?6?E @7 E96 3JA2DD[ (62E96CD D2:5 :E H2D 2? :562 H9@D6 AC@;64E65 E:>6 ?6G6C 42>6]k^Am
kAm“%96 DE2E6 92D 366? D6==:?8 @77 A2C46=D 7@C J62CD ?@E :? E96 :>>65:2E6 A2E9[ D@ J@F 4@F=5 D2J E96 HC:E:?8 H2D @? E96 H2==[Q 96 ?@E65]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 ?6G6C 36=:6G65 :E H@F=5 D@=G6 E96 C68:@?’D EC277:4 AC@3=6>D] !=FD DEF5:6D 925 AC65:4E65 E92E @?=J @?6\BF2CE6C @7 E96 EC277:4 H@F=5 H2?E E@ FD6 E96 3JA2DD E@ 86E 2C@F?5 }@CE9 r@?H2J E@ 86E E@ v@C92>[ q6C=:? 2?5 A@:?ED ?@CE9]k^Am
kAm“v@C92> 2?5 q6C=:? AFD965 7@C :E 2D E96J 76=E :E D=@H65 ECF4<D ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E9C@F89 r@?H2J[Q (62E96CD D2:5] QqFE :D E92E 2 C62D@? E@ E2<6 2== @7 E92E 24C6286 2?5 C6>@G6 :E 7C@> E96 E2I C@==D 2?5 AFE 2 `[___\7@@E DEC:A C:89E @7 H2J :?E@ E96 DE2E6n” (62E96CD 2D<65]k^Am
kAm%96 A=2? 7@C E96 3JA2DD 92D 366? :? E96 H@C<D 7@C ?62C=J E9C66 564256D — 2?5 367@C6] pCE:4=6D :? E96 ?@H\567F?4E #6A@CE6C H66<=J ?6HDA2A6C 7C@> E96 `hd_D DE2E:?8 E92E E96 C68:@? 925 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 E@ C6D@=G6 :ED EC277:4 :DDF6D] %9:D H2D 324< H96? E96C6 H2D @?=J (6DE $:56 #@25 2?5 #@FE6 `e 2D H2JD E@ EC2G6= ?@CE9 2?5 D@FE9 E9C@F89 E@H?[ 2?5 367@C6 :>AC@G6>6?ED E@ #@FE6 `e E92E H:56?65 E96 C@25 2?5 367@C6 E96 }@CE9\$@FE9 #@25 H2D 3F:=E] k^Am
kAm%92E =65 E@ ?F>6C@FD 962C:?8D[ H:E9 E96 A=2? <?@H? 2D h\p 49@D6? 2E 2 962C:?8 492:C65 3J =2E6 s:DEC:4E ` tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=@C #2J qFCE@? 96=5 2E E96 8J> @7 H92E :D ?@H z6??6EE |:55=6 $49@@= :? `hhb[ =625:?8 E@ E92E A=2?’D C646:G:?8 2 A6C>:E 7C@> E96 &]$ pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66CD EH@ J62CD =2E6C]k^Am
kAm%96 h\p 3JA2DD 2D AC@A@D65 925 E9C66 D64E:@?Di D@FE96C? W7C@> #@FE6 `e ?62C E96 r@?H2J–p=32?J 3@C56C E@ E96 &$ b_a–}w ``b :?E6CD64E:@?[ 67764E:G6=J 56E@FC:?8 E@ E96 D@FE9 @7 r@?H2J G:==286Xj E96 >:55=6 W7C@> E96 &$ b_a–}w ``b :?E6CD64E:@? E@ ?62C E96 AC6D6?E 52J (2=\|2CE =@42E:@?X 2?5 ?@CE96C? W7C@> (2=>2CE[ 2=@?8D:56 E96 }@CE9\$@FE9 #@25[ G66C:?8 62DE @G6C E@H2C5 ?62C E96 32D6 @7 rC2?>@C6 2?5 E96? E9C@F89 (9:E2<6C (@@5D[ 4@>:?8 @FE ;FDE ?@CE9 @7 |6>@C:2= w@DA:E2=[ 2E E96 D:E6 H96C6 q:EE6CDH66E vC66?9@FD6 @?46 DE@@5X]k^Am
kAm}6:893@C9@@5 8C@FAD DF49 2D “$E@A t\a[”:? @AA@D:E:@? E@ @?6 @7 E96 AC@A@D65 62DE6C? C@FE6D[ H6C6 7@C>65[ H:E9 =2E6C 8C@FAD AC@E6DE:?8 H:E9 D:8?D DF49 2D “}@ (2J[ h\p]k^Am
kAm%96 @A6?:?8 @7 E96 }@CE9\$@FE9 #@25 82G6 E96 AC@;64E 2 E9:C5 AC@?8[ 3FE ?@E 2D 3:8 2D E96 3JA2DD[ =@42E65 C:89E H:E9:? E96 AC@A@D65 4@CC:5@C @7 E96 3JA2DD[ E96 ?@CE96C? A@CE:@? @7 H9:49 H@F=5 92G6 8@?6 D:56 3J D:56 2=@?8D:56 E96 }@CE9\$@FE9 #@25 H96? E96? s~% r@>>:DD:@?6C r92C=6D ~’{62CJ D2:5 96 4@F=5 92G6 2 “D=2> 5F?<” 3J DBF66K:?8 3@E9 :? E96C6]k^Am
kAmw6 C62D@?65 :E H2D 2=D@ 2 A=2? E92E H@F=5 6?86?56C DFAA@CE 7C@> 4@?D6CG2E:@? AC@A@?6?ED[ 3642FD6 3J >@G:?8 E96 3JA2DD 4@CC:5@C 7C@> E96 32D6 @7 E96 vC66? w:==D :? E96 62DE E@ E96 H6DE6C? D:56 @7 !F55:? !@?5[ H:=5=:76 H@F=5 36 36EE6C D6CG65[ C2E96C E92? 36:?8 A=2465 :? 52?86C 3J 92G:?8 E@ 4C@DD E96 3JA2DD 2D E96J 2EE6>AE65 E@ C6249 E96 A@?5]k^Am
kAmz6J E@ E96 AC@A@D2=’D 324<:?8 7C@> E96 7656C2= t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J WH9:49 925 G6E@ A@H6C @G6C E96 pC>J r@CADX H2D 2 A92D65 2AAC@249[ H:E9 E96? #68:@?2= p5>:?:DEC2E@C y@9? s6':==2CD 492>A:@?:?8 2 A=2? E@ F?56CE2<6 FA8C256D E@ #@FE6D `e 2?5 b_a 2?5 :>AC@G:?8 EC277:4 :?E6CD64E:@?D 2E E96 z2?42>28FD w:89H2J[ #@FE6D `e^b_a 2?5 #:G6C $EC66E 367@C6 E96 7:?2= E9C66[ >@C6 6?G:C@?>6?E2==J :?G2D:G6 3JA2DD A92D6D H6C6 F?56CE2<6?]k^Am
kAm$6=64E>6? 2?5 E96 DE2E6 4C62E65 E96 r:E:K6?D p5G:D@CJ %2D< u@C46[ H:E9 ?F>6C@FD >66E:?8D 96=5 E@ 8@ @G6C 56D:8? :DDF6D 7@C 3C:586D WDF49 2D E96 C2:=C@25 3C:586 E92E H2D 3F:=E @G6C pCE:DE u2==D #@25 H96? E96 C2:=C@25 EC24<D H6C6 C6=@42E65 2D A2CE @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 @7 E96 }@CE9\$@FE9 #@25X]k^Am
kAmpD A2CE @7 >:E:82E:@? 7@C E96 3:D64E:?8 @7 (9:E2<6C (@@5D 3J E96 3JA2DD[ E96 DE2E6 3@F89E E96 q2?4C@7E AC@A6CEJ WD:E6 @7 E@52J’D (9:E2<6C w@>6D:E6X 2?5 2=D@ 24BF:C65 @G6CD:89E 3J E96 r@?H2J r@?D6CG2E:@? r@>>:DD:@? @? A2CED @7 E96 D@\42==65 $49:2G: AC@A6CEJ ?62C E96 @=5 #65DE@?6 "F2CCJ]k^Am
kAmx? yF?6 a__g[ E96? v@G] y@9? {J?49 D:8?65 E96 DE2E6VD a__h–a_`g %6? *62C %C2?DA@CE2E:@? x>AC@G6>6?E !=2?[ H9:49 :?4=F565 E96 D@FE96C? =68 @7 E96 r@?H2J qJA2DD] r@?DECF4E:@? H2D A=2??65 E@ DE2CE :? a_`d 2?5 =2DE 7@FC J62CD[ DA=:EE:?8 E96 D@FE96C? =68 @7 E96 3JA2DD :?E@ E9C66 A92D6D 5FC:?8 E92E E:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 >:55=6 2?5 ?@CE96C? D64E:@?D H6C6 ?@E A2CE @7 E96 a__h–a_`g A=2?] ~? pAC:= `b[ a_`_[ H:E9 5@F3E @7 E96 >:55=6 2?5 ?@CE96C? D64E:@?D 36:?8 3F:=E[ r@?H2J G@E6CD C6>@G65 E96 =2E6\`hh_D\4C62E65 @G6C=2J 5:DEC:4E 7@C E96D6 D64E:@?D[ 2==@H:?8 7@C 56G6=@A>6?E H:E9:? d__ 766E @7 E96 DE2E6\@H?65 3JA2DD 4@CC:5@C]k^Am
kAm~? yF=J a[ a_`g[ v@G] r9C:D $F?F?F D:8?65 E96 DE2E6VD a_`h–a_ag %6? *62C %C2?DA@CE2E:@? x>AC@G6>6?E !=2?] %92E A=2? 4@?E2:?65 EH@ D64E:@?D C682C5:?8 E96 r@?H2J 3JA2DD]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@H[ 2D s~% r@>>:DD:@?6C $96692? ?@E65[ :E :D ?@E :? E96 a_a`\a_b_ %6? *62C %C2?DA@CE2E:@? x>AC@G6>6?E !=2? D:8?65 :?E@ =2H 3J v@G] $F?F?F E9:D DF>>6C]k^Am
kAm}@E C6D@=G65 :? E96 ?@?\3F:=5:?8 @7 E96 3JA2DD :D E96 AC@3=6> @7 EC277:4 :? r@?H2J ':==286[ 3FE[ D@>6 92G6 4@>6 E@ F?56CDE2?5[ EC277:4 :D 2 A2CE @7 2?J H6==\EC2G6=65 E@ E@FC:DE C68:@?[ H96E96C E92E :D r2A6 r@5 @C E96 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J]k^Am
kAmr@?H2J’D |2:? $EC66E :D E@ 36 C63F:=E 3J E96 DE2E6 :? 2 E9C66\A2CE 28C66>6?E 36EH66? E96 DE2E6[ E96 E@H? @7 r@?H2J 2?5 E96 r@?H2J ':==286 u:C6 s:DEC:4E E92E H:== 2=D@ :?4=F56 E96 C63F:=5:?8 @7 2 H2E6C >2:?] %96 D4965F=6 7@C E96 H6DE6C? A2CE @7 E92E AC@;64E 7C@> E96 r@?H2J $46?:4 #2:=C@25 EC24<D 62DE E@ E96 u@FC r@C?6CD :D 36:?8 H@C<65 @FE 3J E96 E9C66 A2CE:6D 3FE :D 6IA64E65 E@ 368:? E9:D 72== H:E9 2? ~4E@36C a_a` 4@>A=6E:@? 52E6]k^Am
kAm•••k^Am
kAm$xstqp#i s~% r@>>:DD:@?6C $96692?VD $6AE] c[ a_a_ =6EE6C @? #@FE6 `e 3JA2DD DE2EFDik^Am
kAmr~}(p* – %96 7@==@H:?8 $6AE] c[ a_a_ =6EE6C 7C@> DE2E6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? r@>>:DD:@?6C ':4E@C:2 u] $96692? H2D C625 2=@F5 3J %@H? |2?286C %@> w@=>6D 2E E96 r@?H2J 3@2C5 @7 D6=64E>6?VD $6AE] aa >66E:?8ik^Am
kAm“s62C $6=64E>6?i x HC:E6 E@ :?7@C> J@F @7 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@?’D =2E6DE :?E6?E C682C5:?8 E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 r@?H2J qJA2DD !C@;64E] pD J@F >2J <?@H[ @? ~4E] ``[ a_`f[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E 9@DE65 2? :?7@C>2E:@?2= >66E:?8 E@ 5:D4FDD E96 @FE=@@< @7 E96 r@?H2J qJA2DD] pD 5:D4FDD65 2E E92E >66E:?8[ E96 ad\J62C AC@;64E65 EC277:4 G@=F>6D E9C@F89 E96 4@CC:5@C 92G6 ?@E :?4C62D65 2D 2?E:4:A2E65 :? `hhh] &A8C256D E@ &]$] #@FE6 b_a^}w #@FE6 `e[ 2D H6== 2D 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 }@CE9 $@FE9 {@42= #@25 92G6 :>AC@G65 E96 @G6C2== EC277:4 7=@H E9C@F89 >F49 @7 E96 2C62]k^Am
kAm“x 36=:6G6 :E :D 86?6C2==J 24<?@H=65865 2?5 F?56CDE@@5[ 2?5 92D 366? 7@C D@>6 E:>6[ E92E C62=:DE:42==J E96C6 2C6 ?@E C6D@FC46D 2?5 H96C6H:E92= E@ 25G2?46 E96 r@?H2J qJA2DD AC@;64E] pD 2 C6DF=E[ 5FC:?8 E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 a_a`\a_b_ %6? *62C %C2?DA@CE2E:@? x>AC@G6>6?E !=2?[ D:8?65 :?E@ =2H E9:D DF>>6C[ E96 r@?H2J qJA2DD AC@;64E H2D C6>@G65 7C@> E96 %6? *62C !=2?] }@H E92E E96 AC@;64E :D ?@ =@?86C :? E96 %6? *62C x>AC@G6>6?E !=2?[ E96 5:DA@D:E:@? @7 E96 4@CC:5@C ?665D E@ 36 7:?2==J 2?5 7@C>2==J 564:565] p44@C5:?8=J[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E H:== 25G2?46 2 C6BF6DE E@ E96 v@G6C?@C 2?5 tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:= E@ 7@C>2==J 5:DD@=G6 E96 AC@;64E =2J@FE] s:DD@=G:?8 E96 AC@;64E H:== C6>@G6 E96 4=@F5 @7 F?46CE2:?EJ @G6C E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 2==@H E96 s6A2CE>6?E E@ 368:? E96 AC@46DD @7 5:DA@D:?8 @7 AC@A6CE:6D 24BF:C65 7@C E96 AC@;64E[ E9FD 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ 36 A=2465 324< @? E96 %@H?’D E2I C2E6]k^Am
kAm“%96 4@>>F?:EJ’D A2E:6?46 @G6C E96 A2DE D6G6C2= J62CD 92D 366? >F49 2AAC64:2E65] – ':4E@C:2 u] $96692?”k^Am
(1) comment
Now it appears that Berlin/Gorham and north will have to resort to going to court to sue for fair travel to the Great North Woods! Littleton has flourished in a big part to have if I 93 going through their community! Berlin/Gorham suffer because we have no such advantage! The choice for Conway is either a by pass or a widening of 16 through the towns! In order for B/G to become an economic powerhouse that it once was, a faster wider highway is necessary! The only “big” grocery store we have is Walmart. Others that have been approached about opening here have bluntly stated that although they might be interested the lack of a major highway makes it financially risky! The only hold up to that is the Conway area! Perhaps Conway is happy to be the tourist trap that it is! The people of B/G want jobs that pay well....not jobs catering to strangers that pay little in anything other than aggregation! Conway may have stopped progress temporarily but change is always promised and in the end, the Great North Woods WILL succeed!
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.