ARUNDEL — The Maine Department of Transportation is proposing several highway and safety improvements along Maine Route 111 in Arundel, and it wants your input.

The MaineDOT will hold a public meeting May 17 to discuss proposed improvement projects along the 13.7-mile-long route, which connects Alfred to Biddeford and runs through Arundel and Lyman.

Proposed are the reconfiguration of Alfred Road (Route 111) where it meets New Road, and a possible half-mile-long passing lane westbound between Old Alfred Road and Drew’s Mills Road in Arundel.

Ernest Martin, MaineDOT senior project manager, said Tuesday that the two projects have been in the works for some time — with the passing lane project emerging from the original intersection project — and are intended to address heavy traffic flow along the busy corridor.

“It’s more of a mobility issue out there on (Route) 111. You have a lot of high traffic volume out there,” he said. “The intent is to clean up that intersection and make it safer and improve the mobility beyond that intersection to improve the traffic flow.”

The total cost of the two projects, including engineering, construction, right-of-way permitting and construction engineering is $4.1 million, Martin said. However, with an anticipated construction date of June or July of next year, the numbers are subject to change.

The public meeting is slated to be held at 7 p.m. May 17 in the Mildred L. Day School gymnasium, 600 Limerick Road, Arundel.

“The department is particularly interested in learning local views relative to project consistency with local comprehensive plans, discovering local resources, and identifying local concerns and issues,” MaineDOT said in a release.

Martin said he expects the public will react positively to the proposed projects, particularly the redesign of the intersection of New Road and Route 111.

“Obviously I think everyone understands the severity of the intersection and that it needs to get improved,” he said. “It’s really a safety issue today and I think what we’re going to do is clean that up.”

Announcement of the two Route 111 projects comes as “construction season” begins in many York County communities.

If you’ve driven through Saco recently, you’ve seen crews work on a water main restoration project along Main Street.

Maine Water is currently replacing about 2,200 feet of water main — installed in 1884 — at the intersection of Main, Elm, Beach and North streets.

And in Biddeford, orange cones and workers with flags will line the streets for the next couple months, as several road improvements will take place.

Through May 11, Gorham-based Shaw Brothers Construction will be excavating crosswalks, “bump-outs” and design areas at City Square and at York and Alfred streets to remove cobblestones and obstructions.

Motorists and pedestrians should be advised that manholes may be lowered in preparation for a “mill and fill” paving project that will sometime in May or June.

Paving will be completed along Main Street from Elm to Alfred streets. Traffic will be controlled in an alternating one-way pattern while paving occurs.

That project will begin to conclude the Main Street Sidewalk Improvement Project, which has been ongoing since May 2016.

Tree planting is also on the books, as is minimal road repair to Main Street south of Elm Street, according to the city.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.