I am writing in support of Cumberland’s Route 88 improvement project, which was recently unanimously approved by the Town Council. We have lived off of Route 88 for 30 years, and I walk recreationally on the road several times a week. This project is a matter of safety for those who walk, bike, or jog on the road. Equally important is the fact that the project will remediate the substantial drainage problems many of us have been dealing with for years.

Route 88 in Cumberland has not had maintenance work for more than 20 years. Although it is a state road, the state will not fund any of the road’s necessary maintenance until the road is brought up to state standards. Completing the project now rather than later will save money in the long run for two reasons: in these economic times we can expect an extremely competitive bidding process, and once the road is brought up to state standards the town will not have to pay for future maintenance.

Approximately 470 homes will be positively affected by this project. The money spent will improve safety and the quality of life for a large number of homeowners. When our children were in elementary school we did not allow them to walk or ride their bikes to their friends’ homes; it was simply too dangerous. We have a friend who was hit by a car on Route 88 in Cumberland as she jogged. This project is not a nicety, it is a necessity.

Susan Bisbing
Cumberland