Piscataquis commissioners to pick contractor for Blanchard Township culvert project

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County Commissioners are expected to select a contractor next month for a much-needed culvert replacement project on Taylor Road in Blanchard Township.

The county will use a $125,000 grant from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to fund the project. Piscataquis County applied for the grant in 2020 and received it last year.

Commissioners opened four bids for the project at Tuesday’s meeting, ranging from $113,500 to $644,000. They will review the proposals and select a winning bid at their next meeting on March 8. The new structure will have a natural streambed underneath, which is supposed to benefit the stream and fish population, County Manager Michael Williams said Wednesday.

“The culverts themselves were starting to get bad,” he said. “At some point in time, this needed to be addressed.” 

Maine voters have approved four bonds since 2015 that fund the upgrade and replacement of stream crossings throughout the state, according to a description of the Municipal Stream Crossing Upgrade Grant Program on the DEP’s website.

“These monies support the DEP’s competitive grant program that matches local funding for the upgrade of municipal culverts at stream crossings to cost-effectively improve fish and wildlife habitats, reduce flooding and increase community safety,” the website said.