BAR HARBOR — A $1.4 million project designed to improve the flow of traffic at the head of Mount Desert Island is on track for spring construction. The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) is set to advertise for construction bids beginning April 8, with a bid opening date of April 29, said project manager Ernie Martin.

If MDOT can get a quick turnaround on its construction bids, work on lower traffic areas on Route 102 could begin in May, said Mr. Martin. That construction would continue until Memorial Day and resume after Labor Day. The pre-Memorial Day construction will avoid Route 3 and the area of Route 102 around the KOA campground, he said. “Then we’ll come back after Labor Day and complete the project.”

The project, slated to greatly improve the traffic flow at the head of the island, has garnered both positive and negative feedback from island towns since it was proposed in 2007. At that time, it received an unfavorable response from the Bar Harbor Town Council. The council has since given the project its support. Those who continue to oppose the project have said that other projects should get top priority.

Upon completion, the project would move the traffic light at the head of the island 700 feet south toward Bar Harbor on Route 3. This will allow southbound traffic on Route 102 to bypass the light. A new connector road just south of the Parkadia store will join Route 102 and Route 3, and the northbound lanes on both routes will be doubled surrounding the new stoplight.

The MDOT is in negotiations with four property owners. “There will be some houses and some strip takings,” said Mr. Martin. The MDOT plans to purchase 2 acres of property from Parkadia owner Tim Ray located behind the business. Once negotiations are finalized with Mr. Ray, two rental units will be torn down to make way for the new connector road between Route 3 and Route 102.

The Parkadia owner recently purchased the land behind his store in order to develop it commercially. When he first heard of the traffic project, he was unsure how it would affect his development plans. Now that he and the MDOT are nearing the end of their negotiations, the rest of his land could be developed commercially, were the Bar Harbor Planning Board to allow it.

Mr. Ray continues to question the necessity of the project, although he admits that he will benefit from it. “If everything goes as planned I should receive money in April – it’s much-needed money, but I still think it could be better spent elsewhere,” he said.

MDOT officials maintain that the project is necessary and timely. The intersection update is projected to reduce current wait times by 86 percent, said Mr. Martin. If nothing is done, wait times are expected to more than double by 2028. Under the plan, wait times would increase over the next 20 years, but remain manageable.

The Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC) and the town of Bar Harbor are working with the MDOT to make aesthetic improvements during the construction phase of the traffic project. “This is really a chance for us to beautify the island,” said HCPC senior planner Jim Fischer. Improvements will include flowerbeds in the traffic islands, set to be maintained by the town, expanded bike lanes, and the cleanup of old signage and bent guardrails. Local agencies also are working to design a new welcome sign to be installed at the head of the island.

The project, set to be funded with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state money, is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.