Downtown Improvement Project

In August of 2022, the City of Sanford, and the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) received a Federal RAISE Grant for infrastructure improvement projects in the Downtown area. The project will make complete streets improvements on approximately 0.7 miles on Cottage Street (Route 202), approximately 0.5 miles on William Oscar Emery Drive, approximately 0.5 miles of Main Street (Route 109), approximately 0.2 miles on Washington Street, and approximately 0.2 miles on School Street in downtown Sanford.

This project will replace and/or construct the street, sidewalks, crosswalk, underground utility ducts, streetlights, upgrade traffic signals, parking spaces, drainage areas, a multi-use pathway, and a Park & Ride facility on Emerson Street serving the Navy base; improve safety aspects of downtown for pedestrians, motorists, and all road users; modernize infrastructure to attract potential employers and commercial and residential development; and meet ADA and MaineDOT standards.

Project Schedule

• Open House/Preliminary Public Hearing 11/17/22
• Plan impact Complete - August 2024
• Formal Public Meeting September 2024
• Construction Phasing Meeting 11/20/25 
• Right of way process underway
  • Final Mapping
  • Appraisals
  • Negotiations
• Project Plans, Specs & Estimate - July 2026
• Project advertise - August 2026
• Bid Openings - October 2026
• Project award -  December 2026
• Construction Begin - March/April 2027
• Construction Complete - Spring/Summer 2031

Project Updates

2025

Public Meeting - November 20, 2025 Construction Phasing 

• Stakeholder Letter
• Presentation slides
• Layout hearing Plan (no arrows PDF) 
• Layout Hearing Plan (with arrows PDF)
• WIN 25335.00 WOED Traffic Plans (PDF)
• WIN 26306.00 Park & Ride Traffic Plans (PDF)

2025 Progress Plans

• WIN 024395.01(PDF)
• WIN 022642.00 (PDF)
• WIN 025335.00 (PDF)
• WIN 026306.00 (PDF)

2024

Public Hearing September 11, 2024

• Public Hearing Transcript Sept 11, 2024 (PDF)
• Public Hearing Presentation Sept 11, 2024 (PPT)
• Sanford Downtown Plans WIN 024395.01 (PDF)
• Sanford Downtown PROFILE Plans WIN 024395.01 (PDF)
• Sanford Cottage Street Plans WIN 022642.00 (PDF)
• Sanford Riverside WOE Hearing Plans #1 WIN 025335.00 (PDF)
• Sanford Riverside WOE Hearing Plans #2 WIN 025335.00 (PDF)
• Sanford Emerson St Parking Hearing Plans WIN 026306.00 (PDF)

2024 Progress Plans

• WIN 024395.01 (PDF)
• WIN 022642.00 (PDF)
• WIN 025335.00 (PDF)
• WIN 026306.00 (PDF)

2022

• Public meeting minutes - 11/17 (PDF)
• RAISE Grant Project Presentation - 11/17

Project Resources

• Sanford Project Mailer 2022(PDF)
• Downtown & Cottage St Hearing Plan 2022 (PDF)
• Downtown & Cottage St Presentation 2022 (PDF)
• Mousam Prom Plan & Profile 2022(PDF)
• Mousam Prom Presentation 2022(PDF)
• Park & Ride Site Plan 2022(PDF)
• Park & Ride Presentation 2022(PDF)
• Project Map of Sanford 2022(PDF)
• Preliminary Public Meeting Agenda 2022(PDF)
• Stakeholder Letter 2022 (PDF)
• Sanford Project Mailer 2022 (PDF)

Sanford Downtown Improvement Project - Photo Gallery