Bulldozers are likely to begin construction of the Gorham Bypass within three to five years, according to Burleigh Loveitt, chairman of the Gorham Town Council.

Loveitt’s comments came on Wednesday after hearing that President George W. Bush had signed the $286.4 billion federal transportation bill, which includes money earmarked by Congress for the Gorham Bypass.

“Upon hearing the President has signed the bill, we are gratified and extend appreciation to Maine’s congressional delegation,” Loveitt said. “Citizens will be well served by their efforts.”

The measure passed the House and Senate late last month and Congress then sent it to the White House. “Finally, after decades of planning and waiting, the Gorham Bypass will be built,” Rep. Tom Allen of Maine said on July 28 with Congress on the verge of final action approving the bill.

Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced on July 29 that the bill included $15.7 million for a Gorham Bypass. The money would build the first phase of the bypass. Skirting southwesterly around Gorham Village, it will link Route 114 (South Street) to Route 25 (Ossipee Trail) near Brandy Brook Hill. The bypass will also intersect with Route 202 (Narragansett Street) and will either go under or over Flaggy Meadow Road.

President Bush signed the bill at a Caterpillar plant in Montgomery, Ill., according to the White House.

“This road system that we have is going to be modernized through the Transportation Equity Act. It will provide more than $286 billion over six years to upgrade our nation’s network of roads and bridges and mass transit systems,” the president said. “The Transportation Act will finance needed road improvements, and will ease traffic congestion in communities all across this country.”

Loveitt thanked Snowe, Collins, Allen and Rep. Mike Michaud for their work in congress, obtaining money for the Gorham Bypass.

Route of a bypass around Gorham Village.