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Scottow Hill Road

Background

Scottow Hill Road is closed due to failing culverts over Beaver Brook. Upon inspection, the culverts were found to be structurally compromised and pose a safety risk to the traveling public. The road remains closed until further notice to ensure public safety.

  • Location of Closure:  Scottow Hill Road (Between Payne Road & Two Rod Road)
  • Closure Start Date: 5/28/2025
  • Estimated Repair Timeline:  Assessment ongoing and impacted by permitting restrictions (tidal crossing work may only occur between November and April due to state regulations)
  • Detours: Motorists traveling either Scottow Hill Road or Payne Road should use Two Rod Road as a detour until further notice

Your safety is our top priority. Please avoid the area and respect all closure signs and barriers. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

 
barrier across Scottow Hill Road

 

 

Solutions, Funding & Considerations

Due to construction timing and funding limitations (there was no funding available in the FY2026 operating budget for design or construction), the Town has used 2025 to understand potential options and repair costs. It also explored the opportunity of grant funding for some options. Factors weighed when considering options were the overall cost, environmental impact, traffic capacity, and convenience. 

Grant Opportunities

Staff review 7 grants:

  • 3 federal grants - Project did not meet all criteria
  • 2 federal grants - Funded through the Recovery Act and are no longer available
  • Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund (MIAF) - May 2026 application submission deadline
    • Requires resilient design based on the Maine Won't Wait Climate Action Plan
    • Design criteria aligns with Vulnerability Assessment
    • Requires CoastWise sizing criteria and consideration of increased intensity storms from inland flow
    • Funding in 2027
  • Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program (MNRCP) - Application submitted; approved by review committee
    • Funds target the restoration of floodplains, wetlands, and marsh areas
    • Utilizes funds paid by developers when they impact wetlands
    • Under this grant, culverts would be removed and Beaver Brook would be restored (requires permanent closure of this portion of Scottow Hill Road)
    • Application submitted September 2025; review committee recommended this project for funding ($562,000)

Solution Options

Culvert Replacement

  • Minimum culvert replacement
    • Estimated cost= $1.24 million
    • Local road utilizing 100% local funds
    • Short-term design
    • Undersized when upgrades are made to Payne Road culverts and Route 1 crossing
  • Resilient culvert replacement
    • Estimated cost= $3.9 million
    • Potential funding through MIAF grant ($3 million)
    • Consistent with recommendations in the Vulnerability Assessment
    • Aligns with Maine Won't Wait and meets CoastWise design standards
    • Long-term planning for sea level rise and upstream flows

Culvert Removal & Stream Restoration

  • Estimated cost= $884,000
  • MNRCP grant $562,000 (local funds $322,000)
  • Long-term solution
  • Consistent with recommendations in the Vulnerability Assessment
  • Hammerhead turn-around to be installed
  • Requires permanent road closure
  • Optional additional measures: Bypass roadway through adjacent parcel or other traffic upgrades
    • Estimate cost= $300,000+
    • Helps provide some relief from traffic impacts
    • Other improvements could be made to impacted corridors and intersections

Considerations

The Town Council will determine choices and funding in Spring 2026, largely influenced by public engagement. Questions for the Town Council are:

  • Does Council want staff to move forward with a replacement option or removal option?
  • If replacement of the culverts is the preferred option, should staff pursue design for minimum crossing or a resilient crossing?
  • If removal and restoration is the preferred option, should staff pursue a bypass road connection or other traffic mitigation measures in combination with this design?
     

Public Engagement

Town Council Workshop
February 4, 5:30pm
View recording

Council Corner Live
February 12, 6:30pm
In-person only

Resources

Council Workshop (2/4) Presentation Slides
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the road still closed?

The failed culverts on Scottow Hill Road serve Beaver Brook, a tidal stream connected to Scarborough Marsh. Construction activities that take place within tidal waters in Maine are carefully regulated to protect sensitive habitats and species. These activities fall under the oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which sets specific timeframes for when work can occur. Because of the road’s proximity to the marsh—which is both tidal and a significant habitat for protected species—the approved construction window is limited to between November and April. Limiting work to the colder months reduces potential impacts on wildlife during their active and breeding seasons. A waiver or exemption from these regulations is not possible. The Town must plan any construction during the November-to-April window to protect the health of the marsh ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Town staff are reviewing scenarios for potential solutions and funding sources. Scottow Hill Road is in an environmentally sensitive area, which may help to secure grant funding. Regardless of the issuance of a grant, funding will need to be allocated in an upcoming budget.

Is the Town considering closing the road for good?

Town staff are evaluating two primary options for Scottow Hill Road:

1) Replace the failed culverts and maintain the roadway as it has been.

2) Remove the culverts and restore Beaver Brook. This considers that the road is in an environmentally sensitive area as the Town looks to the future of vulnerable infrastructure. 

Both options present their own challenges. Replacing the failed culverts will be expensive. Preliminary estimates suggest as much as $4 million, as four existing culverts will need to be replaced with a larger concrete box culvert for more capacity and long-term resilience. Because the culvert failures occurred after the municipal budget had been approved, no funding was allocated for the project. Construction on the replacement is unlikely to begin until fall 2027, as the Town is exploring funding opportunities.

Closing Scottow Hill Road would be the least expensive option both upfront and in the long run. It would allow Beaver Brook to return to a natural condition and eliminate the need to maintain vulnerable infrastructure. As part of this option, the Town applied for and received a grant to cover the majority of the cost of this approach. However, Town staff are sensitive to the inconvenience of eliminating a through-connection. The Town has not accepted the grant at this time.

Did the Town already make a decision?

No decision has been made at this time. The Town Council is following a public process to hear public feedback. As always, the Town will seek to balance prudent financial spending, environmental conservation, and resiliency planning, as well as preserving our ever important traffic thoroughfares.