Peninsula residents turned out in record numbers last week to hear a presentation on a proposed roundabout near the Boothbay Common, intended to solve some of the existing traffic problems and hopefully avert some which are expected to develop in the years to come. While it wasn’t actually a public hearing, but rather an initial opportunity for the Boothbay selectmen to review the proposal, those in attendance were able to ask questions and offer comments pro and con.

We’re usually a bit slow at accepting new ideas without carefully reviewing them but we must say that initially the concept of a roundabout makes a lot of sense. Most motorists here on the peninsula would agree that the present traffic configuration around the monument at Boothbay Center at Corey Lane, Back River Road and Route 27, with its multiple stop signs, is far from ideal.  Most folks didn’t want to see the monument moved and with precious little land around the statue, options were limited.

On paper, a proposed roundabout further south on Route 27 makes sense, with a new access road to Corey Lane. Making the short stretch of road leading to the post office a dead-end also seems logical.

We highly approve of plans to make the roundabout a single traffic lane rather than double, because some roundabouts in the state are not only confusing, but dangerous.  Our only concern is making sure the single lane is wide enough to accommodate large trucks and transporters, especially those moving large boats, since some will be headed toward Boothbay Harbor while others will be turning right off the roundabout toward Corey Lane and the Southport area. We’ve watched large vehicles try to maneuver our narrow streets for years, and certainly don’t want to add to their frustration.

One Boothbay resident asked about the potential traffic back-up as motorists approach the roundabout, fearful that southbound cars could be lined up as far as the corner at Country Club Road. We thought it was a good point, and hopefully this issue has already been addressed.

Pedestrian traffic and safety has long been a concern of many area residents because more and more groups are scheduling events on the popular Boothbay Common. The Boothbay Town Office parking lot is heavily used which necessitates pedestrians crossing the main road. We would have liked to see the town acquire one of the house lots on the back side of the Common to serve as a parking lot, making it safer for event-goers to get from their cars to the Common and avoid crossing  heavily traveled  Route 27.  We know plans are underway to protect pedestrians crossing from the town parking lot to the Common, but we’d have liked it a whole lot better if parking was available on the back side of the Common.

We appreciate having the proposed roundabout plans made public well in advance of any scheduled hearings so that both residents and non-residents alike have an opportunity to weigh in on the plan, ask questions, make suggestions, and help formulate a new traffic pattern to come before voters, probably in the fall. We all want to see a solution which will serve peninsula traffic for years to come.