In a recent ceremony at the state house, Gov. LePage and MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt were presented with two checks from Chief Joseph Socobasin of the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township, Maine, totaling $1,900,000 .

Indian Township has been successful in accessing federal highway money through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Reservation Road Program. Pursuant to an executive order signed by LePage, MaineDOT has set up consultation meetings with the tribes intended to open lines of communication and promote tribal-state cooperation.

Indian Township has two projects it is participating in with MaineDOT. One is a U.S. Route 1 bridge replacement, carrying 3,400 vehicles a day, with a total cost of $3 million to be completed next year. The other allows MaineDOT to complete a much heavier and longer lasting treatment on 10-plus mi. of the Grand Lake Stream Road, a rural state highway that was otherwise not eligible for federal highway funding, with a total cost of $2.5 million that is to be finished this fall.

“It is our goal to continue this important partnership to help provide safe and effective transportation needs for the Indian Township area,” said Bernhardt.

In 2010, the Indian Township gave MaineDOT $950,000 toward the $1.7 million Milford Street Bridge Replacement that was completed in the fall.