Safe Routes Project ‘Alive and Well’ After Agreement with State

Southington has received the go ahead to build a culvert rather than a 60-foot bridge as part of the ‘Safe Routes to School’ project, but it is unclear whether an early disagreement with state Department of Transportation officials may cause delays in the project.

The town was able to avoid “going back to the drawing board,” after Southington Town Engineer Keith Hayden showed proof that a culvert would provide ample protection against flooding, Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback said.

The question now is whether work could be started in time to finish the $498,000 project this year or whether it would be prudent to wait until the next construction cycle begins in Spring 2014.

“It is now at a point where we are still hopeful that the town can begin construction this year, but we are no longer sure,” Brumback said. “The back and forth probably cost us six months. Rather than do it fast and risk quality, the town will consider delaying work until next spring.”

Assistant Town Engineer Jim Grappone said in April that the town presented a preliminary design to the state for review as part of a grant funded project designed to enhance the ability for local students and residents to travel around Memorial Park and DePaolo Middle School.

As part of the grant, the town plans to install sidewalks on Woodruff Street from Spring Street to Pleasant Street, as well as cutting a sidewalk through Memorial Park and across a town-owned open space parcel to Crest Road.

“We proposed crossing the brook using a boxed culvert,” Grappone said. “It would disturb portion of wetlands, but would only do so within the regulations set forth by the state.”

To see where the issue began, click the following link.

After initially expressing concerns with the plan, Brumback said staff with the Department of Transportation met with Hayden and were able to iron out the details, allowing the town to move forward with the project as originally planned.

Brumback said the state was willing to come to the table, however, and kept their word after determining that the town plan would not disrupt the flood plain.

“Our staff deserves credit for this,” Brumback said. “Keith (Hayden) understood the right way to approach the DOT and because of his relationships up there, it afforded us an opportunity that we might not otherwise have had. Jim Grappone and (Assistant Town Engineer) Anne Turnquist deserve credit for their work in keeping the project alive as well.”

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