ROAD RESURFACING PLANS

Public works unveils list of streets; project starts in mid-August

WINSTED » The town this week announced a list of roads that will receive repairs under the first phase of a larger plan.

According to the Department of Public Works, Hurlbut Street, East Lake Street, Meadow Street, Hubbard Street, John Street, Elm Street, Wheeler Street, Hinsdale Avenue and Spencer Street, from Hinsdale Avenue to Losaw Road, will be resurfaced.

Work is expected to begin in mid-to-late August, according to the announcement, as part of the town’s road improvement plan for the year.

Plans for future phases of the road improvement effort, Town Manager Robert Geiger said Tuesday, have not been determined yet, as the town is in the midst of contracting out the first phase of the project at this time.

An ad-hoc committee will be formed to guide future steps in the project, Geiger said.

Geiger made improving town roads a major focus of the 2018 town budget, as he set aside $1.4 million in funding for such construction — up from $448,572 in the previous year.

“A million four doesn’t go nearly far enough, but it’s going in the right direction,” said Geiger at the time.

Lenard Engineering conducted an analysis of town roads for the Board of Selectmen, compiling a report that was submit-

ted in July 2016.

Using the PASER scale — a visual calculation of the condition of roads — Lenard determined that 50.3 percent of the 76 miles of paved town roads were in “poor” condition, while 4 percent were in “excellent” shape, 25.2 were in “good” repair, and 3.5 miles were in “failed” condition.

Approximately $1 million in funding per year would be required to keep town roads at their current level of condition, according to the report, with a $32 million backlog of work to bring them all into “excellent” shape.

The Board of Selectmen voted to hire Lenard for $31,000 to conduct this road assessment in September 2015.

BEN LAMBERT / HEARST CONNECTICUT MEDIA In Winsted, Spencer Street between Losaw Road and Hinsdale Avenue is included in a newly announced resurfacing plan developed by the Department of Public Works.

In Winsted, Spencer Street between Losaw Road and Hinsdale Avenue is included in a newly announced resurfacing plan developed by the Department of Public Works.