SACO, Maine — Residents in the Camp Ellis neighborhood should expect some road construction soon as Saco moves forward with a $1.35 million investment to reduce flooding in the area.
After severe winter storms caused major flooding in the area, Saco's Public Works director Patrick Fox said his team wanted to build back a better and more resilient infrastructure.
"Being at the mouth of the Saco River and coastal Atlantic Ocean, it's a very dynamic coastline we have here," Fox said. "This was a great chance for us to improve infrastructure and not just replace as is."
An aging culvert will be replaced with a wider one, right by the corner of Ferry Road and Seaside Avenue according to Fox. A portion of the roadway will be elevated, and the expansion will also enhance pedestrian and bike safety with a sidewalk.
Without the changes, Fox said it's all too common for certain streets to flood in the Camp Ellis neighborhood, which can at times leave nearly 200 properties stranded.
"This project will truly help combat the sea level rise we're going to see in the next several decades," Fox said.
Roughly $100,000 of the project will be paid for by the city. The remaining $1.25 million is being covered by the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF) through the Maine Department of Transportation.
Chief engineer Joyce Taylor explained that the grant program stems from Gov. Janet Mills' plan to help communities rebuild infrastructure after storms.
"We are awarding to 39 communities, and the total amount of money is $25.2 million," Taylor added.
Fox said he hopes to break ground on the project in fall 2025.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the timeline for the construction project. The project is expected to begin next fall in 2025.