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I am a 43-plus year veteran of the Maine Department of Transportation, having worked in bridge maintenance my first five years. I have personally been involved in several near misses with traffic inattention.
One was at the southbound on-ramp to Interstate 95 from Hammond Street in Bangor. A very similar setup that happened in Waterville just the other day. It is a cloverleaf on-ramp to the interstate where traffic was to stop before entering the passing lane traveling underneath the Hammond Street overpass. A lady did not stop, and a tractor trailer almost hit her from behind. Luckily, we were painting the steel beams underneath the bridge and not in the coned off area at that time.
I see the traveling public every day speeding through the Broadway overpass on I-95 not slowing down one bit. The signs say “Fines Double” but to no avail they keep on trucking. Maybe the fines should be quadrupled.
I think maybe MaineDOT, along with the construction industry, should have short TV safety commercials on how to navigate different scenarios the travelling public may encounter daily.
My heart and soul goes out to the families of the two killed and the two highway maintenance workers injured in Waterville.
To the traveling public, please slow down and pay attention to the work zone safety signs.
Terry White
Hermon
