http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140913/NEWS02/709139949
The Springfield Select Board has approved a plan to make improvements to Pleasant Valley Road in Springfield. Photo: PHOTO BY LEN EMERYPublished September 13, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Springfield comes up with another plan for Pleasant Valley Road By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The plan to fix one of the bumpiest roads in Springfield has hit a bump. The Springfield Select Board voted this week to rebuild the two-mile Pleasant Valley Road in sections, after Public Works Director Jeff Strong said the road was in worse condition than he originally thought. Under the new strategy adopted by the board, the first section, which is considered to be in the worst condition, would be rebuilt at a cost of $411,000, and the rest of the road would get some “a shim coat” of paving. The road had been assessed by an engineering firm, Strong told the board, and the firm’s plan identified five sections of the road. The entire project would cost more than $1.8 million, which represents about four years worth of the town’s annual paving budget. “One of the most expensive sections is in a swamp,” Strong said. The road should be raised to improve drainage and protect any money the town does put into the road, he said. The five different sections cost $412,000, $361,000, $492,000, $296,000 and $280,000, from Route 11 to the Rockingham town line. Currently, the town had set aside about $620,000 toward repaving the road and doing some rebuilding. Strong apologized for the late information on the road during the construction season, but said he had been waiting for the plan from the engineering firm. “You can re-plane it and pave it and watch the cracks come back through the road,” he told the board. But Strong said that at any rate, any work on the road will have to be postponed again until the spring of 2015. The board has already postponed work on the road one year: it was originally slated to be paved in 2013. “We have to do it piece by piece or take out some crazy bond,” said Selectwoman Stephanie Thompson. Selectman George McNaughton said he was “tired of not fixing roads right.” The board finally agreed on the hybrid job, which combines rebuilding and paving work. “We don’t get a first-class job but we get a first class job in the first section,” said Selectman David Yesman. Town Manager Robert Forguites said he wanted to see if a base coat of pavement couldn’t be applied this fall, rather than waiting for the spring. Strong has said lining up road contractors before the end of the year was getting very difficult. “We’ll do our best this year for the rest of the road,” Strong said.
been talking about fixing this road for 10 years now,how long is it gonna take to get it done,how about the select board stop supporting groups that want to take properties of the tax list and make them pay their fair share,tear the black top up and make it a dirt road again,the Rockingham end is
ReplyDeleteNa, just the the signs on both ends to the:
DeleteUNPLEASANT VALLEY ROAD
Leave it just the way it is.
Dirt is the way to go with this road, makes no sense to dump money on this road go back to gravel
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall last spring or winter the selectboard stated that no paving or improvements could be done to any roads in town as the whole budget was to be used to finish Pleasant Valley road??? What happened to all that money. I agree 100% with above comment. Tear up the blacktop and make it a gravel road that can be maintained
ReplyDeleteDoes McNaughton live on pleasant valley? He's sick and tired of roads not being done right? I can think of many heavily traveled roads in town that year after year get nothing but band aids. As mentioned last spring by others, I wonder who lives on pleasant valley which makes this priority
ReplyDeleteThe Realist vs. The Idealist (McNaughton): Cage Match - Coming Soon.
DeleteYeah, Yesman wanted to spend the same amount to grind and relay which would have lasted at least five years, well at least the several of the segments even if the first sank out of sight.
DeleteCommon sense, which is lacking on the select board, would say that the town's core infrastructure should receive the priority during lean budget years. Common sense also would seek to preserve the grand list in a manner that can at least maintain tax revenues, instead of exempting more properties for the stat's convenience. Based on the select board's actions, it appears that it will be necessary to call for the coroner so that common sense may be declared dead in Springfield.
ReplyDelete