OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Local legislators are asking the Maine Department of Transportation to review two traffic intersections in Old Orchard Beach.

District 31 State Senator Justin Chenette, D, serving Hollis, Limington, Old Orchard Beach, Saco and part of Buxton has proposed LD 487, a resolve to direct MDOT to study the corner of Smithwheel Road and Ocean Park Road as well as the traffic circle where Ocean Park Road, Old Orchard Beach Road, Old Salt Road, Temple Avenue and Saco Avenue  all meet.

The bill is co-sponsored by Democratic District 13 State Rep. Lori Gramlich, serving Old Orchard Beach.

The traffic circle has long been a topic of conversation. Depending on what direction one travels, a driver going through the circle may have to yield at multiple points or choose from one of two lanes.

“It’s confusing,” said Chenette.

Gramlich concurred, noting that in the summer, traffic is often backed up in this area.

“It’s a terrible intersection,” she said.

In 2005, a study by MDOT deemed the traffic circle as “a high crash area.” The study recommended changing the intersection to a roundabout, which unlike a rotary, would have incoming traffic yielding to slow moving traffic traveling in a circle, with the slower speed creating a safer traffic flow.

Residents at a November 2008 ballot approved the town spend $200,000 for initial work on a new roundabout. The town was slated to receive partial federal and state funding for a potential roundabout project estimated to cost about $3.4 million, with the town contributing about $1.1 million.

In 2009, the Town Council voted to drop the project, and the town lost any matching grant money.

Chenette and Gramlich said the traffic roundabout and the intersection of Ocean Park Avenue and Smithwheel Road are among top concerns of local constituents.

Changes to the intersection of Ocean Park Avenue and Smithwheel Road were made after a Dunkin Donuts coffee shop replaced a former motel, and some residents have concerns on navigating turns at the intersection with the increase in traffic.

Both of these intersections are in the gateway to town when traveling from the interstate or Route One in Saco.

“That whole stretch needs to be looked at because it’s not working,” said Chenette. It’s a main concern of many people, he said, because most residents drive through the area on a regular basis.

“We want people to leave and exit the town safely and have a good experience,” said Gramlich.

Gramlich said she would like a traffic study to be conducted this summer to get an accurate picture of traffic in the area during the height of the tourist season.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.