The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Middletown hopes to reopen road with $139K temporary fix
Residents: Detour increases traffic, forces drivers miles out of the way
MIDDLETOWN — City officials say a temporary fix will help resolve flooding and street erosion issues are being addressed that has caused Lyceum Road to be closed to traffic.
The situation has also increased traffic on the Wilcox Road and the surrounding area near Crystal Lake, leading to complaints from those in the neighborhood, residents say.
Water on both sides and under Lyceum often causes flooding, Acting Director of Public Works Chris Holden has said.
Holden estimates $139,000 will be needed to conduct temporary measures, and he said at Wednesday’s meeting, he hopes to bring the proposal to the Common Council within the next two months.
A permanent repair would entail raising the roadway and installing additional drainage, both cost-prohibitive measures, he added.
Dan Penney told commission members at Wednesday’s meeting that he walks the area most days.
“It’s becoming a hangout or gathering area — from dirt bikes to quads — going up over the wood chips and knocking them down,” Penney said. “There are all sorts of peel-outs, donuts. They know that it’s difficult for public safety, police to be able to get through.”
Pete Sullivan has been driving on Lyceum for some 40 years, he said. The road started to “go to
heck” in terms of drainage, Sullivan said. “That’s beat up now. It kind of fell apart, so there’s water under the road all the time. As long as it’s a dry road, it’s fine.”
In his experience, Sullivan added, “ditches fill in, cave in and are easily plugged with a swail” — or sunken area — “that is relatively easy to maintain.”
For the long term, Nocera said, the city might be able to use road bond money. “It’s a much better option than using the general fund,” he said.
In the meantime, public works has ordered a “hot box,” which heats the asphalt up to about 300 degrees so potholes can be filled, said Nocera, who called it a “sophisticated mechanism.”
“It will vastly improve the process the city needs, especially now with declining resources,” the councilman said.
Asphalt runs $100 per ton, Holden said. “It’s pretty solid, but it’s filling, not paving.” He expects work will begin next week.
“It’s an excellent plan,” Sullivan said. “It’s well-thought-out.”
If everything goes well, and there are no more complaints of car damage, Lyceum will be reopened, the acting director said.
John Hall, executive director of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, said at the April meeting that he’s in favor of the closure, citing a “huge, destructive impact of human beings on the
environment.”
Chris Bevans countered Hall’s argument, saying a quarter-mile of road is not going to “make a big difference in the environment.”
Penney would like to see the road open for emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks. When crews were called for
mutual aid at a blaze in Durham, fire apparatus had to be driven an extra mile — and then make their way to Durham. “A minute of time, in life safety, is a life,” he said.
Sheila Daniels asked the opinion of people in the neighborhood be considered over those who live outside the city.
Lyceum will always be a walking path to allow people to enjoy some 24 acres of Middlesex Land Trust property, Holden has said.
The next Public Works and Facilities meeting is set for June 8 at 6:30 p.m.
For information, visit middletownct.gov.