Thetis Fourli

Brunswick’s Maine Street Streetscape Project, a major reconstruction of sidewalks and infrastructure, has been underway since May 2024. The project, managed by the Town of Brunswick and Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), focuses on improving the pedestrian experience by reconstructing sidewalks and curbs and adding new landscaping along Maine Street.

The project covers approximately 5,000 square yards of sidewalks, including new brick and concrete surfaces, accessible ramps and tree pits. Starting in front of The Great Impasta in May, the construction has progressed over the spring and summer, moving south towards Pleasant Street.

Concrete sidewalks are completed up to the Lincoln Street to Cumberland Street block, with bricklaying in progress. Demolition has begun on the Cumberland Street to Town Hall Place block, and curb and tree wells are tentatively scheduled for installation next week. Temporary parking restrictions are in place, and the town has taken steps to mitigate disruptions, such as coordinating nighttime removal of raised crosswalks and providing vouchers for contractor parking.

As the project continues to progress, local businesses are feeling the impact. Ashlee LaPointe, the store manager at Cool As a Moose, said the construction has hurt business.

“[The DOT] has been good to make access to our doors, but it has been killing foot traffic, so we’re definitely [more] down in sales than we were last year,” LaPointe said.

Despite the current challenges, LaPointe is optimistic about the project’s long-term benefits.

“I hope that it brings a lot of people in to see the new sidewalk, because it’s beautiful what they’ve done. Hopefully that’ll bring more business to us to kind of balance out the less business we’ve had so far,” LaPointe said.

Patrick Scott, the manager at The Animal House, where construction was recently completed in front of the store, said the store’s business was less affected. However, Scott pointed out some areas for improvement in regards to directions for pedestrians.

“I don’t think it really did major impact [to our business] honestly because people still need to feed their animals…. I think we fared well,” Scott said. “That could’ve been better as far as where to go during off hours when the construction people weren’t here. People were stepping over the barriers and all that…. I feel like there should’ve been better signage for that.”

In response to local businesses’ concerns, the town added message boards to make clear that businesses remain open during construction.

Skylar Maier ’27 says she understands the necessity of the task but feels that the city should have considered the timing of the project more carefully.

“I see the point to it, and I get that we need to do reconstruction on the roads. But I feel like the timing was absolutely horrible, because why would you do that when schools are starting?” Maier said. “Also, as a biker … it gives me anxiety to bike down there now, because I feel like I’m going to get hit by a car.… It’s an inconvenience to be honest.”

Meanwhile, Calista Chacon ’26 says that the improvements are welcome additions to Maine Street.

“Cobblestone was not my friend. There were a lot of holes and stuff, so I feel like I tripped a lot,” Chacon said. “I also feel like [the new sidewalk] looks really nice. It was kind of torn up before.”

The Maine Street Streetscape Project is expected to continue through the fall, with a break during the winter months. The construction crew will resume work on the east side of Maine Street in spring 2025.