Wright-Pierce’s 2025 Calendar Series highlights projects featured in our yearly calendar. Our June entry into the series is the Saddleback Access Road project.
Project Overview
Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley, Maine, is undergoing a revival, and Wright-Pierce has been proud to be part of its efforts. We were selected to provide comprehensive roadway improvements to nearly 4 ½ miles of access road stretching from Dallas Hill Road to the base of the lodge. As part of our services for this roadway revival project, we developed a rehabilitation plan and oversaw the construction performed by Pike Industries.
A Partnered Approach
Roadway rehabilitation often involves more than pavement repair. Rehabilitation of this access roadway included replacement of fourteen culverts that were in poor condition and corroding; the addition of new culverts to improve roadside drainage; the design of roadside ditching to mitigate drainage problems; the removal of boulders from the roadbed; and the reclaiming of existing pavement. The project also incorporated new pavement as well as re-grading and shimming of the road gravels to crown the road and improve drainage within the roadway.
Part of design work is anticipating and planning for future needs. The project aligned with the re-opening of Saddleback Maine, a popular ski resort, so it was important to consider driver safety due to the anticipated increase in traffic on the access road. The location of the project meant coordination between multiple project partners was key to the design’s completion. To undertake this work successfully, we prepared an interlocal agreement between Dallas Plantation, Sandy River Planation, and Saddleback Mountain. Completing the tasks with this agreement meant project costs were split between the three partners, thus lessening the financial burden for each member. Additionally, we created a Private Partnership Agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation to share in a portion of the work’s costs.
About the Photo
The calendar photo for Saddleback Access Road was captured by Senior Project Manager Jeffrey Preble. When asked what makes this project so calendar-worthy, project team member Jaime Wallace answered, “Projects like this one make direct impacts to the communities they serve, which is why we do what we do. As you drive up the access road, you’re surrounded by trees and the mountain peak is in the horizon, which really speaks to the scenic beauty of the area.”
Project Impact
Our natural landscapes are invaluable resources that add richness to our communities. The revitalization of Saddleback Mountain is important, and the completion of the Dallas Hill Road and surrounding area has helped promote improved travel access for visitors to the mountain.
Contact us today to learn how Wright-Pierce can help your community revitalize its important civil and transportation infrastructure.