Keeping The 'Good' Roads Good

The Amherst Department of Public Works is looking toward the future when it comes to maintaining town roads.

This year’s town warrant includes an article (Article 29) that asks voters whether or not $100,000 should be raised for road maintenance.

DPW Director Bruce Berry said that his department needs to address portions of the road that are not listed in the $15 million “Road Construction Bond” that was approved by voters in 2010.

For example, the bond includes work on a portion of Lyndeborough Road, but the section of the road that is not listed needs it as well. If approved, the money would be used to finish the rest of this road and other roads like it.

A list of 52 sections (22.9 miles) of town roads were identified as needing work in the $15 million “Road Construction Bond” that was approved by voters last year.

The proposed DPW this year and does not have room for this additional maintenance on these unlisted sections of road.

“Article 29 is to help do some of those sections without jeopardizing the maintenance budget,” said Berry. “It will help us catch some of those worst spots.”

He added that his department would also use the funds to maintain good roads and prevent future reconstruction work. Chip sealing and other methods of preventative maintenance has been used to keep up the quality of these roads.

The department has $573,406.32 in its proposed road maintenance budget. State cuts to the 2012-13 Highway Block Grant and percentage increases from bond interest have shifted more costs down to the towns.

The Road Funding Analysis Committee recommended increasing this line of the budget to $1.1 million after a study in 2008 in order to keep up with road maintenance.

“We really need to have 1.1 million in road maintenance to touch every road once every six years, we are not even close than that,” said Berry.

The town of Amherst's deliberative session will be Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in Souhegan Cooperative High School. 

Voting will take place on Tuesday, March 13 at Souhegan Cooperative High School from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.