Probably the most dangerous stretch of road in the Lakes Region is a rolling, twisting ribbon of Route 35 between the routes 114 and 237 intersections in Standish.

Last week, David Fortin of Baldwin was tragically killed in an early morning, head-on collision when a Naples driver crested a small hill along the section and lost control of her vehicle. Two years ago, standout Saint Joseph’s College basketball player and sophomore business major Clark Noonan was killed in another accident in that stretch, and in 2010 a spectacular scene played out when a driver in a sedan veered into the path of a fully loaded logging truck that flipped and came to rest on top of the cab of a pickup truck driven by a Raymond man. The driver’s quick assessment of the situation and speedy actions saved his life as he splayed out on the seat and avoided being crushed by the truck’s descending weight.

In interviews conducted with the Lakes Region Weekly following these accidents and others, officials from the town and public safety say the roadway itself plays a role. The general perception is that if the road were graded properly for the posted 50 mph speed limit, motorists would be better able to navigate the route and would have more time to react to traffic conditions ahead.

According to Standish Fire/EMS Chief Brent Libby, who has the unpleasant duty of responding to the horrific scenes with his cadre of first responders, the area doesn’t have a higher-than-usual rate of accidents, but when they do happen, they are normally more severe than other trouble spots in the area. Libby says the twisty, curvy, undulating aspects of the road, coupled with a high speed limit, contribute to the safety hazards.

Most of Route 35, especially from North Windham to the Portland Water District’s water treatment facility at the corner of Route 237, is an excellent road. It’s straight, wide and has few curb cuts. The roadway, however, changes drastically driving west of the Route 237 intersection. From there, it’s a white-knuckle, roller-coaster ride. That’s fine if you’re a decent driver and have a car that handles well (a low-profile Lamborghini would serve just fine), but can be treacherous if road conditions are less than ideal, as they were during last week’s fatal collision during a brief snowstorm.

For years, Standish officials have been talking with Maine Department of Transportation planners seeking ways to improve the stretch. The state-owned roadway runs through Portland Water District property known as the Sebago Lake Land Reserve. Since the water district’s goal is to remove all threats to the drinking water supply, the district has said it would be amenable to relocating the roadway inland away from the edge of a cliff overlooking Sebago Lake’s Lower Bay, perhaps connecting further south on Route 237.

With so many serious accidents taking place on the poorly constructed stretch, something needs to be done to prevent further tragedies. While rebuilding a straighter, flatter roadway – similar to the rest of Route 35 from Windham to Standish – would be ideal, it would also be costly. But some things are worth the cost. A new road would also meld nicely with work performed several years ago to the bridge over the Mountain Division rail line at the western end of this dangerous stretch of roadway. The state did a wonderful job improving the bridge and approaches. The state should continue the reconstruction work all the way to Route 237.

In the meantime, the town should request the state perform a study in hopes the speed limit can be lowered – 50 mph is just too high for that section. Perhaps a 40 mph limit would help slow travel enough to allow motorists to negotiate any hazards they confront along the road. That way, we hope, future tragic accidents can be avoided.

–John Balentine, managing editor