WILTON, Conn. Driving along some of Wiltons roads has become an adventure, and motorists say they are tired of being jarred in their cars by deep potholes and rocky asphalt.
A state Department of Transportation crew closed a lane along Route 33 Thursday to remove an old rusty sewer in preparation for upcoming repairs.
Meanwhile,Wilton resident Michael Prendergast said he voted against the towns proposed budget this year because of the tax hike and the deplorable condition of the roads."
"I live on Bald Hill Road, which is so badly damaged it's hard to drive over the roadway, Prendergast said. I would like to know why the town cant do a simple thing like repave the roads.
The towns roads took such a pounding this past winter that First Selectman Bill Brennan has pledged to launch a long-term repair project by using a special capital appropriation that could cost millions of dollars and take two years to complete. Like many communities in our region, last years winter has left some roads in terrible shape, theres no denying that, Brennan, 76, said in announcing his intention to seek a fourth term as first selectmen earlier this week.
I do not believe we can make all the repairs with the annual Public Works budget, and have directed the Public Works Department to make a survey and prioritize which roads are the worst so we can take care of them first, Brennan said. This is a problem we take very seriously."
He said, however, it would take time to conduct and review a survey before deciding where to make repairs along Wiltons 127 miles of town roads and 4 miles of sidewalks.
Board of Finance Chairman Warren Serenbetz said he wasnt sure he would support a multimillion-dollar bonding project to repair roads.
Of course we have to do something, the roads are a big problem in Wilton, Serenbetz said. But I dont know whether the repairs have to be made with a special appropriation that will place a further burden on the taxpayer, or if we can accomplish the same thing within the Public Works Departments annual budget.
Serenbetz said he wants to review the size and scope of the project and how much it would cost before deciding whether to support a special bonding initiative.
Do you agree with First Selectman Bill Brennan that a special appropriation may be needed to repair Wiltons damaged roads? Leave a comment below.
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