Town Has Priority List For Road Repairs

Last week the Town Council unanimously voted to approve requests from Public Works manager Art Simonian to award contracts that would propel work on town roads forward.

Galasso Materials of East Granby and Tilcon of Plainville were awarded contracts for re-construction and overlay work on town roads. Galasso Materials LLC manufactures crushed stone, hot mix asphalt and a recycled asphalt base material for its customers throughout Connecticut and western Massachusetts. Tilcon Connecticut Inc. is a leading supplier of quality crushed stone, hot mix asphalt and ready mix concrete throughout Connecticut. Tilcon also provides heavy and highway construction and paving services for state and local road, bridge and highway projects.

Re-construction of a road means it has to be basically re-built because it is in very poor shape. The overlay procedure can be used when the road is not in terrible shape but needs a facelift.

"We have a pretty extensive list of roads that we will want to fix," Simonian said. "We have a $6 million bond and we need to take care of these roads now before they fall further into disrepair"

Simonian pointed out to the Town Council that in six years the roads have gotten considerably worse.

"In 2006, our report told us that we had 4.7 miles of road that needed to be re-constructed and 22 miles that needed to have overlay done," Simonian said. "Our latest report, six years later, says we have 23 miles of road that need re-construction and 42 miles that need overlay. This shows why we have to deal with the problem now so the roads don't deteriorate further."

Simonian gave Berlin Patch a knock list of roads he hopes to repair as soon as possible.

They are:

• Renee Drive
• Highview Terrace
• Longview Drive
• Orchard Road, east of Elton Road
• Spruce Brook Road
• Mary Ann Court
• Skinner Drive
• Vivian Drive
• Knollwood Court
• Whispering Brook
• Parts of Reservoir Road
• Don Bates Drive (the driveway to Timberlin GC)