MEDIA ROOM

For Use At Will
June 6, 2005

Infrastructure Improvements Promote Growth

MADISON, Maine – Infrastructural improvements create new opportunities for businesses. In recent months, area communities have announced and completed projects that will also benefit Madison.

During the flood of 1987, ice packs damaged a railroad trestle spanning the Kennebec River. As a result, a deserted four-mile section of track between Madison and North Anson has gone unused since. In order to plan an expansion to their facilities, Cousineau Lumber Company in North Anson needed those rails refurbished. Guilford Rail System, the current owner of the abandoned stretch of track, took the initiative to make the improvements a reality.

Guilford matched a nearly $600,000 grant from the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to make the improvements. Reopening the stretch of track will help many businesses in the area. Cousineau can now move forward with its expansion, which could add jobs to their payroll in the coming years. Guilford's business will improve by adding another customer using that stretch of track. The nearby Embden quarry will provide Guilford the crushed rock necessary to rebuild the foundation on which the rails sit.

"I find the railroad refurbishment encouraging because it was funded both publicly and privately," said Norman Dean, Madison's town manager. "That shows me that both local companies and the state are committed to working together to improve business opportunities in our area."

Another recently completed project at the Central Maine Regional Airport will also make Madison more accessible from the air.

Until recently, the 60-year-old pavement on the runways in Norridgewock resembled loose cobblestone. This prevented some aircraft, such as small jets, from using the airport since airborne pieces of rock could clog up and destroy turbine engines.

Contractors finished the new runways and parking apron this fall, and both passed MDOT inspection in December. The majority of the improvements were paid for by a Federal Aviation Association (FAA) grant.

"This is the first step in modernizing our facility," said Craig "Jack" Jackson, airport manager. "Many people probably don't know that we're the fourth busiest general aviation airport in the state based on log entries, and these improvements will only increase traffic in years to come."

Jackson says the airport already has successful business partnerships and these improvements have opened the door for growth. Executives from Madison Paper Industries, Dirigo Stitching and New Balance have flown into the airport to visit their nearby facilities. Corporate leaders also fly in to spend weekends at Sugarloaf and other natural tourist attractions. CMRA provides a home for Morgan Aviation, the area's only flight school, and Aerial Survey, a successful aerial mapping company.

As part of a five-year plan for the facility, Jackson envisions more hangars, improved lighting, increased refueling capacity and lengthening the runways by 1,000 feet to allow more powerful aircraft to land in Norridgewock.

"I see the area of Madison and Norridgewock becoming a distribution point supporting development in Somerset County," Jackson said. "The increased development in this region leads me to believe that this airport can be a big contributor as our improvements progress."

###

back to Media Room