[Amended 6-13-2026]
A. 
The type of road is as defined in § 153-21. Roads shall meet the standards as listed in Table 1, Road Design Standards, and shall be in accordance with the typical cross section appended to this chapter.[1]
Table 1: Road Design Standards
Item
Collector
Town Way
Private
Common Driveway
Right-of-way width (minimum) (feet)
60
60
60
60
Pavement/travelway width (feet)
20
20
20
16
Minimum grade (percent)
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
0.5%
Maximum grade (percent)
8.0%
12.0%
12.0%
10.0%
Within 50 feet of intersections (percent)
3.0%
3.0%
3.0%
3.0%
Minimum angle of intersection (degrees)
As close to 90° as possible (no less than 60°)
Width of shoulder (each side) (feet)
3
2
2
1
Minimum center-line radius (feet)
200
200
200
200
Minimum tangent between reverse curves (feet)
200
100
100
100
Subbase (meeting MDOT 703.06 Type D)* (inches)
18
15
12
12
Base (meeting MDOT 703.06 Type A)* (inches)
6
6
6
Not required
Base pavement (bituminous; after compaction)* (inches)
2-3
2-3
Not required
Not required
Wearing course (bituminous; after compaction)*† (inches)
1 1/4
1 1/4
Not required
Not required
Minimum crown (inches)
1/4
1/4
5/8/ft.
5/8/ft.
Minimum radius of right-of-way at intersection (feet)
4
4
4
4
Minimum radius of pavement at intersection: 90 (feet)
25
25
25
25
Minimum distance between intersections (feet)
300
200
200
200
Minimum culvert size ± (inches)
15
12
12
12
Minimum cover over culverts (inches)
18
*
Maine Department of Transportation specifications will be used to establish material quality specifications. These material thicknesses presume a suitable native soil below subgrade. Fine-grained soils having a California Bearing Ratio of less than 15% will generally require additional subbase material.
†
Thickness would be based on type of projected traffic/use and will be discussed with the Road Commissioner and based on the following pavement guidelines: surface pavement (wearing course) use 9.5 mm pavement 1 to 1 1/4 inches in thickness; intermediate pavement (if used) 12.5 mm pavement 1 1/2 to 2 inches in thickness; base pavement use 2 1/4 to 3 inches in thickness (max. depth base layer 3 inches). On all, use a 50-gyration super pave mix.
±
See § 153-9D
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A, Minimum Turning Paths, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
Dead-end streets shall be avoided whenever possible. When a dead-end street is required by the constraints of the parcel, or when phasing of a subdivision results in a temporary dead-end street, a turnaround for use of emergency and other vehicles shall be provided and the following minimum specifications be adhered to:
(1) 
For a cul-de-sac, the radius of the right-of-way shall be 65 feet while that of the travelway shall be 50 feet maximum with 30 feet minimum (see Appendix A[2]).
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
A hammerhead shall have a travelway width as per the class of road and a minimum length of each "leg" of 40 feet.
C. 
All base and subbase materials will be placed at the optimum moisture content to achieve the desired compaction. The maximum compacted thickness of any layer shall not exceed 12 inches. Compact all base and subbase material to at least 90% of the maximum density as determined in accordance with ASTM D698. Determine in-place density using ASTM D1556 or D2022 or other method approved by the Board. The Board shall determine the frequency of in-place testing required.
D. 
All new culvert installations and replacements will utilize plastic culverts with a minimum 12 inches' diameter and with a minimum length of 30 feet and a maximum length of 40 feet. A waiver may be obtained by the Road Commissioner where the installation of a twelve-inch or larger culvert is not possible. While the minimum cover for culverts is as referenced in Table 1 by road type, 24 inches will be the accepted standard whenever possible. In extenuating circumstances, where even the referenced minimum is unattainable, a waiver may be granted by the Road Commissioner.
[Amended 6-13-2026]
A. 
For all road classifications, grade changes shall be accomplished by parabolic vertical curves of such design that a minimum sight distance of 200 feet is maintained. In no case shall vertical curves have lengths less than K * A, where A is the algebraic difference of the grades in percent and K is defined in Table 2, Grade Changes, below.
Table 2: Grade Changes
Design Speed
(mph)
"K" for Crest Curves
(feet)
"K" for Sag Curves
(feet)
25
25
33
30
28
35
40
50
50
50
80
70
60
150
100
B. 
All streets shall have adequate stormwater drainage facilities to prevent pavement flooding and side-slope erosion.
C. 
Side slopes shall have a maximum grade of 33%.
Sight distance shall be measured from the driver's seat of a vehicle that is 10 feet behind the curb or edge of the shoulder line with the height of the eye 3 1/2 feet above the pavement and the height of the object 4 1/2 feet. The minimum sight distance shall be based on MDOT standards as listed in Table 3, MDOT Safe Stopping Distance.
Table 3: MDOT Safe Stopping Distance
MDOT Safe Stopping Distance Table
MPH
Distance in feet
30
250
35
305
40
360
45
425
50
495
A. 
All roads shall be provided with traffic-control signs at the expense of the applicant/developer. Signs establishing speed limits, stopping lines, yield locations, and other similar instructions shall be in conformance with the current MUTCD standards. Street- and road-name signs shall be MUTCD standards and retro-reflective and be provided by the applicant and installed as directed by the Board of Selectmen/Road Commissioner.
B. 
All applicable signage shall be installed prior to acceptance by the Town.
All proposed permanent roads shall be designed and constructed in accordance with this chapter. An "entrance permit" or "driveway permit" from the Road Commissioner, or his/her authorized agent, shall be required for any new road, driveway, accessway, curb cut or other road/street opening, the purpose of which is to provide access to and from a Town road or a proposed Town road. The Road Commissioner, or his/her agent, shall specify culvert size, specify any special installation requirements, and locate points of safe access for the opening. The installation and cost of such opening (entrance) shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property to which access is provided. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the entrance meets the standards established by the Town of Wales (based on MDOT standards) for the installation, along with any additional requirements specified on the permit by the Road Commissioner. The Road Commissioner will inspect installations requiring culverts to ensure that the installation meets the permitted requirements. Installations not meeting the requirements must be brought into compliance before building permits or other construction will be permitted.
Any underground installation of utilities within five years of building and paving or repaving of a Town road shall be outside of the paved area whenever feasible. Where pavement cuts are made, the entire rebuilding may be requested of the responsible party and a sharing of the costs negotiated. Plans will be reviewed and approved by the Road Commissioner. As in all underground installations, Dig Safe and ok-to-dig will be contacted and documented.