http://rutlandherald.com/article/20130913/NEWS02/709139940
Published September 13, 2013 in the Rutland Herald Paving of Pleasant Valley Road pushed back By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The paving of Pleasant Valley Road will be postponed until next year to allow the town to do a more thorough, longer-lasting job. The Springfield Select Board voted to postpone the job and set aside $110,000 of this year’s $400,000 paving budget toward the eventual repaving. The town highway crew has been working along Pleasant Valley Road this summer, replacing culverts and cleaning out ditches. Public Works Superintendent Jeff Strong said it made more sense to wait for the soils around the new culverts to settle and do the final paving in 2014. Everett Hammond, chairman of the town’s budget advisory group, pushed to do a thorough rebuilding of the popular road, saying it would save the town money in the long run. Hammond, who is a public works consultant for the neighboring town of Rockingham, urged the town to do test pits along the roadway to determine whether there was an adequate base to support the road. Several residents along Pleasant Valley Road were on hand to urge the board to take action, and they said their road was being used more and more as a shortcut to Bartonsville and Route 103. Under the new plan, the town would “reclaim” the road, grinding down the old pavement, putting in some new gravel and paving the road. Select Board member Michael Knoras questioned whether the road was a Class 2 or Class 3 road. The town would be eligible for more state aid to highways if it was a Class 2 road, Knoras said. Weathersfield Center Road, for instance, is a Class 2 road, Town Manager Robert Forguites said. Strong said “reclaiming” the two-mile long road would cost about $50,000 per mile. Paving costs would be additional. A total rebuild of the road would cost about $800,000 a mile, Hammond said, suggesting it could be done in increments over a number of years. “If you have garbage underneath...” Hammond said. But Kristi Morris, chairman of the Select Board, questioned Hammond on the ability to get a total of $800,000 for one road passed during budget times, and he reminded Hammond that the Budget Committee had cut the recommended budget for paving last winter. From $600,000 to $400,000. Hammond said the town should only pave those roads that are “ready,” and he said it was a case of “pay now or pay later.” If the town waits to pave roads until they are rebuilt, Morris said, “We’re never going to put (new) blacktop on pavement.” One resident, Scott Goodrich, questioned why the town allowed heavy trucks to use town roads during the spring season, when some paved roads are considered most vulnerable to damage. “Why do we allow it?” Goodrich said. If the roads are posted, Knoras asked, does the town actually enforce it? Under the new schedule, the roads that will be paved this year include Highland Road, Cherry Hill, Grove Street, Gulf Street, Maple Street and Gurney Road. Parts of Brockways Mills Road will be “shimmed,” or receive a thin layer of pavement, and Fairground Road from Riverside Middle School to the Springfield Recycling Center will also receive treatment if funds hold up, Forguites said.
this is funny, they can even fill the potholes that now exist along every major road in this town.
ReplyDeletehow about the town take care of the sidewalks going to elm hill school,NO !!! they put up saw horses and block it off making kids walk down the hill in the road.while 50 or more cars waiting to pick up kids,
ReplyDeleteI agree...I got yelled at for not walking on the sidewalk the other day up on South St...mind you, I'm 29++ and know enough to be exceptionally mindful of traffic unlike a 10 yo, however my other choice is to walk among the smattering patches of remaining concrete sidewalk and dog doo (Davis-Union St)...no offence to the the Highway Dept....but seriously...even if we have to spend an hour or two every year replacing it, can't we buy a couple of bags of $6 quikrete and fix these sidewalks to a useable level? Is this really going to break the bank or do we get to break an ankle?
DeleteAsk the public works director about the list of streets overdue for paving. It's a long list. It's all a matter of money. Glad to see the fire chief gets a nice new ride, but couldn't he drive his own car and be reimbursed mileage for official use and alot those funds to paving? Our town fathers don't seem to make the hard choices in favor of the majority. The squeaky wheel gets the cash!
ReplyDeleteI would rather not see it paved. Cars travel way to fast on it now, even thought it is a rough ride. I call it the UNpleasant Valley road. When and if it gets paved, more cars will travel on it to get to Rt 103. I would rather not see that because many violate the 25 mph law in B'ville too.
ReplyDeleteSpringfield's reaping what it has sown, playing host to state offices, state prisons, tech centers and wreck centers that yield ZERO TAX REVENUE as opposed to having developed a strategic plan to attract and acquire private industry that would provide BOTH JOBS and TAX REVENUE. Enjoy the bumpy ride and turned ankles Springfield. You asked for it.
ReplyDeleteX2 anon 11:57
DeleteAnd to compound the issue, the undesirable element those non revenue producing entities attract has only furthered the demand on existing services.
Time to kill the beast.
If you want roads and sidewalks repaired, I'd suggest you to urge the budget committee and selectboard to put money in the budget for these projects. The Town budget routinely passes. We are accepting budgets without enough maintenance money. Let's push for a small increase to add for some of these projects to be accomplished. The amount they say was put in for paving work this year was a pittance compared to what s needed to improve things around Town. I will say, I agree wholeheartedly with deferring patch work in favor of full funding for complete repairs. But let's get more in each budget to make a complete street repair a year rather than repairs only being done every two or three years.
ReplyDeleteThe Director of Public Works is a JOKE. Since he has started an entire host of maintenance issues have arisen. From lack of simple weed whacking along River Street to narrowing roads during repaving (like Old Ct. River Rd. years ago). Every morning you will find a town truck parked behind the FD Slack and Steamer Co., doing absolutely NOTHING for hours.
ReplyDeletethe public works director just started a little over a year ago when harry Henderson retired...why don't u go ask them what they are doing instaead of watching them
DeleteIf the director of Public Works is such a "joke" as you so eloquently stated, maybe you would like to show the town how much better you can do. He is probably doing the best he can given the delicate financial circumstances. As for town vehicles parked. I know that is a popular spot for dumping leaves collected by the workers while in the nearby neighbourhoods,or maybe they are simply taking their given break. It might be best to know the whole situation before making judgmental comments.
DeleteLOL. Sorry Townie. Truth hurts - here is some bactine and a band aid.
DeleteWell it seems you just have all the answers. People like you will never understand that the problems you speak of are out of that departments control, things like budget cuts and lack of personnel make jobs that should be simple not so. I could go on forever but it would just never get through. I won't make this a back and forth it's not the place and it's just a waste of time.
Delete