Opinion: Bethel Roads Look Like a War Zone: 'Enough is Enough'

Editor’s note: This letter was originally posted on a Facebook forum with the author giving Bethel Patch permission to repost.

A Letter to the Editor from David Lancaster:

“Well it’s October 2nd and Nashville Road still looks like a war zone. The highway department came about three weeks ago and installed new drains. They, just like the potholes are sitting there waiting to be finished.

I just don’t understand what is taking so long.

Am I really expected to pay these taxes and only have smooth roads for the winter months, forced to drive on crappy roads throughout the spring summer and fall? I understand that this was a tough year with a really bad winter that destroyed a lot of the roads but enough is enough it’s October.”

First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker responded by saying:

“The town crews are still installing drainage on Plumtrees and Nashville Ext. When those are all completed, the contractor, A&J Construction will arrive to mill and pave those three roads plus Whipporwill all at one time. All of the area contractors are very overbooked this year (Bethel’s not the only town doing a lot of road work).

I am not sure why October is not considered “timely.” Our road construction plan for 2015 is right on time. The time frame in this year’s plan was scheduled out way back last April and calls for construction to continue all the way to the end of November, just like it has for the past 5 years. This town neglected its road budget for many years and we’ve been playing “catch up” since 2010. Our crews have been rebuilding roads on an accelerated schedule 2x to 3x above “normal” in each of the past 5 years. This season construction began on May 7th and has continued non stop since then. In other words, they start paving as soon as it’s warm enough and continue until winter weather shuts down the asphalt plants. That is a normal, timely construction schedule.”

Do you agree? Tell us in the comments.

Would you like to submit a Letter to the Editor? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.