Back Cove Constructions Projects, Timelines and Updates

Thank you to David Very and the BCNA for hosting an information session 2/23 on the Construction Projects that will be affecting Back Cove and the surrounding neighborhoods. Below is a summary of the projects. Watch 30 min recording of the meeting.

Brad Roland, a Senior Project Engineer in Portland Public Works, presented information and answered questions on the four on-going and upcoming construction projects in our neighborhood. He encouraged everyone to visit the City web site at https://www.portlandmaine.gov/1386/Water-Resource-Projects for ongoing updates to these projects.

BCNA will also continue to provide neighbors with updates on these projects. If you would like to get involved with BCNA Traffic and Safety Committee to voice issues and concerns as to these projects, please send them an e-mail.

The following are expected timelines and impacts of the projects.

Mackworth/Ocean/Walton Combined Sewer Overflow Separation Project

Phase One of this project, highlighted in red in the above map, will likely continue until the fall followed by road repair that will likely be completed in October or November of 2021. Phase Two of this project, highlighted in green in the map above, will likely occur in a couple of years and will impact Ocean Avenue, Hersey and Codman Streets.

Back Cove West Storage Conduit Project

This project will install new box conduit, consolidate combined sewer outflows and install new drains and water lines to protect Back Cove. It is scheduled to begin in May of 2021 and will result in multiple long street closures throughout the project.

The first phase will result in the closing of Baxter Boulevard from Payson Park to Vannah Avenue. The walking path will remain open. It is expected this work will continue through the summer and fall of 2021. Once that section is complete, Baxter Boulevard will be closed from Vannah Ave. to Dartmouth Street. Once that work is completed, Dartmouth Street will be closed from Baxter Boulevard to Forest Avenue. It is expected that the latter phases will continue throughout 2022 with final paving and striping in the spring of 2023.

Back Cove South Storage Facility Project

This project is expected to continue throughout 2021 with an expectation that it will be completed in the summer of 2022. The new elevated playing fields will hopefully be available in the fall of 2022.

Vannah/Clifton Intersection and Expansion of Barrows Park
The Vannah/Clifton intersection will remain a four way stop and Barrows Park will be expanded. As reported earlier, additional signage and striping will be added this spring. However, as funding must be found for the expansion of Barrows Park, and due to the water resource projects, this work may not occur until at least 2023. Thus, it appears that the intersection and park will remain in their present configuration during that time.