Residents to Officials: 'We Don't Want School Street Repairs'

School Street in Marion was recently recognized as , suffering from serious base problems, safety issues and other challenges that have left it in a state of disrepair that could lead to a construction project upwards of $1.7 million.

As the town moves forward to look at ways to address the problem, however, local residents had a different message for officials on Monday night: “We like it the way it is.”

Three dozen residents from School Street, Marion Avenue and DeFashion Avenue came together at the historic Marion Schoolhouse Monday evening for a public hearing into the plan and while they had plenty of concerns over road conditions, there was little support for a project on the half mile stretch of road.

“None of the residents here are fighting for the repairs. We understand the condition the road is in, we understand the number of potholes. We’re fighting to keep those potholes,” said Victoria McCarthy, a resident of School Street.

The road was named worst in Southington back in February following conducted by Vanasse Hangen Bristlin, Inc. The road scored a 37 out of a possible 100.

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Garry Brumback and Acting Town Engineer James Grappone said an evaluation of the road about two years ago put costs for repairs in the $1.7 million range. Repairs would include not only milling and repaving, but would involve fixing the base and adding curbing to address drainage and structural problems caused by years of declined maintenance.

The town is also considering straightening a section of the road to address a “dangerous curve” in the western section near Old Mountain Road and increasing the width to 24 feet. It stands at just 15 feet in some areas, well below engineering standards according to Grappone.

The town will consider School Street as part of a larger set of repairs to take place over the next ten years. The repairs would involve $5 million in investments per year and would require approval through referendum.

If approved, repairs would take place between April and October 2013, Brumback said. School Street is just part of a larger set of repairs but is the biggest undertaking the town has ahead of it.

Brumback also promised residents that if the referendum is approved, they would seek input from residents during the design stages of the project.

But residents say repairs would be damaging to the character of the neighborhood and could actually lead to a different set of safety concerns including issues with speeding, blasting which could cause damage to property and ruining the historic nature of the neighborhood itself.

When Elizabeth Guest was walking her Collie Pippin on Monday, there were several sights that left her concerned. First, she was nearly hit by a car traveling more than 40 mph along School Street and then was forced off the side of the road when a truck bearing the label “wide load” proceeded to zoom by soon after.

She said straightening the road would only serve to cause further problems.

“When we first moved here, things weren’t so bad. As they built the houses (to the west), the traffic became worse and worse,” she said. “Our children used to ride their bikes up and down the road without issue. We wouldn’t be able to let them do that today.”

School Street residents Curt and Cynthia Bailey, who live near the curve, said they are also concerned that while safety seems the main issue, repairing the road would actually lead to more accidents. They were also concerned with blasting – one area of which would be right in front of their home.

Grappone and Brumback said blasting, if any, would be minimal but that it could be necessary in order to address certain issues. Furthermore, Brumback said residents concerns would be considered and homes inspected to address any damage that may be caused. He promised the town would do everything to prevent any damage to personal property and work to address the issues and properly compensate residents should damage occur.

Still, that would not prevent blasting from causing damage to homes and residents expressed concerns that they did not want to have to deal with contractors in order to have damage repaired properly.

Almost everyone who spoke Monday also said that the small, winding road adds to the appeal of the historic neighborhood.

“I’ve lived here 27 years and the road has never been an issue for those of us who live on it. The repairs would serve for those commuters who cut through and many aren’t from town,” said School Street resident Donn Reilly. “We like it the way it is.”

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