AUGUSTA — Roads maintained by the Maine Department of Transportation in 197 communities across the state are scheduled for brush control spraying in July.
According to DOT senior landscape architect Robert Moosmann, roads maintained by the department are selectively sprayed once a year to control the growth of trees that otherwise encroach upon the safety clear zone along the roadside.
The reasons for maintaining a safety clear zone include keeping proper sight distance on hills, curves, intersections and entrances; the need for snow storage; the ability to let sunlight onto the roadway during the winter to reduce icing; and the need for a clear area to allow motorists to pull off the pavement in an emergency or should a driver leave the road by accident.
Moosmann pointed out that “only hardwood brush under 6 feet in height and softwoods under 3 feet in height are sprayed during the roadside operation.” He further stated that “the department routinely clears overgrown brush by hand that has grown beyond the size that can be sprayed. MDOT is also committed to developing alternative vegetative groups that can reduce the need to use sprays and decrease the need to mow as well.”
“We have been successful in establishing lupine, which have purple flowers in June, in many roadside areas, and we have established rose acacia and crown vetch, which keep brush from growing and help reduce mowing,” Moosmann added.
DOT spray crews maintain buffers around sensitive areas such as wetlands, streams, rivers, lakes, schools, gardens and pastures.
A dilute mixture of two products is used. The spray consists of 0.5 percent herbicide and 99.5 percent water. The two herbicides are Triclopyr and Dicamba. Typically, only 1 quart to 2 quarts of actual herbicide are applied for each mile of roadside.
Municipalities and landowners living along spray routes may enter into “no-spray agreements” with the DOT. These are cooperative agreements in which municipalities or landowners agree to cut brush and maintain the roadsides to DOT standards in lieu of spraying.
For more information about the DOT spray program or to request a no-spray agreement, contact a local DOT office in Presque Isle, 764-2060; Ellsworth, 667-5556; Bangor, 941-4500; Fairfield, 453-7377; Rockland, 596-2230; Scarborough, 883-5546; or Dixfield, 562-4228.
To obtain further information on schedules for your community, contact your local DOT office. Technical information is available from the DOT Office of Environmental Services in Augusta by calling 287-5735.
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