Road Reconstruction Set for Next Spring

When Brian Sosnoski purchased his home with a full basement on Kerrigan Street in 2001, he knew there would be a price to pay for living in the Canals neighborhood. He estimates that he has sunk $50,000 into correcting problems with flooding through the years. What he didn’t anticipate was the sewage intrusion that accompanies some flooding.

When the combined problems strike at his home, in part due to the Kerrigan's aging infrastructure, he and his family can’t wash clothes, flush toilets or take showers. “So we’re kind of a prisoner on the street when it comes to flooding,” Sonoski told the City Council on Tuesday.

At the Oct. 16 meeting, council members unanimously approved two resolutions, one to reconstruct Kerrigan Street, north of East Pine Street; the other to do the similar work at Illinois Avenue, between West Beech Street and West Park Avenue in the West End.

The city received three bids to reconstruct Kerrigan and the work was awarded to the Amityville-based Allen Industries at a cost of $633,185.00, and seven bids to refurbish Illinois, which went to Roadwork Ahead of Westbury at a cost of $599,290, according to the resolutions. The engineering designs for the streets were completed in 2010, said City Manager Jack Schnirman.

Both projects will include the replacement of the sewer and storm drain systems, as well as the refurbishment of sidewalks, curbs and roads, said Jim LaCarrubba, commissioner of public works, who noted that both projects will not break ground until next spring.

The commissioner said he brought the projects to the council now because preliminary work is necessary, including the replacement of a gas main on Illinois.
“They’re going to be able to get that done before frost sets into the ground,” said LaCarrubba, who told the council that both contractors would hold their current costs until next spring.  

Both projects are part of a $5.6 million bond for capital improvements that the council approved in July. LaCarrubba said the costs to reconstruct a total of four roads were estimated at $2.7 million, but the work came in under that price tag.   

“The projects came in total at about $2.54 million, so we’re about $158,000 under what we originally estimated these projects would cost,” he said.

George Coleman, another Kerrigan Street resident, told the council that the existing manholes on his block were installed in 1915, and that about five years ago he and his neighbors signed a petition that called for their street’s reconstruction.