MDOT credits Naples $10,000

By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Isn’t it great when a bill gets lowered?

The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) will credit $10,000 to the Town of Naples, according to Causeway Restoration Committee (CRC) Chairman Bob Neault.

That monetary amount will be deducted from the town’s share of the cost of the Bay of Naples Bridge and Causeway project. The town owes $405,000 for the construction project.

Neault requested that the town be credited $10,000, which was the cost of staining the bridge.

Last month, the committee voted to cancel the bridge-staining portion of the project. However, this task — staining the bridge – was listed on the contract between the town and the state.

“I have spoken with MDOT in light of the reduction in amenities we had received. We negotiated a $10,000 reduction in the town’s commitment,” Neault said.

“That is really good news for us,” he said.

Meanwhile, the general contractor on the project, Wyman and Simpson, Inc., wrapped up the job of grinding and then sealing the Causeway sidewalks in late July, Neault said.

“All the sealing has been done on the concrete sidewalks,” he said.

“Because they have extra sealant, they are going to go ahead and seal the town dock,” he said.

Town Manager Derik Goodine said he walked over the sidewalks, and did not realize that a layer of sealant had been applied to the concrete. So, he was not certain if the town dock had been sealed yet.

According to MDOT Resident Engineer Craig Hurd, the weather postponed the job of sealing the sidewalks.

During three weeks in July, it was either too hot or raining or the area was hit by afternoon thunderstorms, Hurd said.

“The weather hasn’t cooperated with them on that,” Hurd said.

Although Naples residents and flocks of tourists have been enjoying the Causeway, it won’t officially be handed over to the town until next spring.

“It won’t be until another year. They won’t sign off on it until we know everything is going to be okay,” Goodine said.

“For example, the landscaping — we certainly won’t take over maintenance of that until it survives a winter,” Goodine said.

According to Hurd, all state construction projects have a one-year guarantee.

“There is a year guarantee if something isn’t right due to workmanship,” he said.