Politics & Government
Which Ellington Roads Are Next in Line for Repaving?
The Ellington DPW has released a proposed paving list for 2013-2014.
Some Ellington residents will be enjoying a smoother ride home in 2013-2014!
Public Works Director Timothy Webb has released next year's proposed road repairs.
The next roads up for repaving are as follows:
Â
Proposed 2013-2014 Reconstruction and Overlay List
- Brookmeadow Lane - 581 feet - $16,128
- Flanders - 370 feet - $10,248
- Forest Hill Road - 581 feet - $16,128
- Ketchbrook Court - 159 feet - $4,368
- Ketchbrook Lane - 2,112 feet - $59,136
- Robinson Circle - 423 feet - $11,816
- Rothe Lane - 1,162 feet - $32,424
- Field Drive - 580 feet - $16,128
- Hayes Avenue - 4,277 feet - $119,616
- Hillsdale Drive - 3,221 feet - $90,048
- Fairview Avenue - 1,980 feet - $55,440
Webb added that the list will not be finalized until the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen send the budget to referendum, and it is approved by voters.
Webb said that Ellington generally invests $500,000 in its roads each year. As part of his budget request, he has also asked for funds to grade the condition of Ellington's roads. If approved, a contractor would most likely complete the surveying work, Webb said.
The Never Ending Battle of Road Repair
It's not easy to keep New England roads in good condition.Â
But Webb said that public works is always experimenting with new paving techniques to help taxpayers get the most bang for their buck.
"We are constantly exploring and testing to find the right measures," Webb said.
This season, Webb plans on first crack sealing the roads located in subdivisions. Crews will then lay fabric over the road and will overlay the surface. Webb said that he has seen the most success in preventing "reflective cracking" of the pavement using this technique. He cited Wells Road as a particularly successful example.
"Reflective cracking," according to Webb, occurs when the old cracks in repaved roads eventually "reflect" back into the new layer of pavement.
Larger collector roads, such as Egypt Road, will probably be chip sealed, Webb said.
Road Repairs in Somers
Somers' Deputy Public Works Director Todd Rolland said that the town does not yet have a five-year road repaving plan, but that it's in the works. He said that he is processing local road survey results from the University of New Hampshire’s Technology Transfer Center, which was completed in January.
Rolland said a five-year plan would be ready next year, and that the town will continue to crack seal and repair Somers roads as needed this year.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
