Elliot Street Bridge to reopen on schedule
BRATTLEBORO — BRATTLEBORO - The Elliot Street Bridge will reopen to traffic in time for the start of school.
According to Town Manager Peter Elwell, state contractors plan to reopen the bridge by Friday, Aug. 26.
If weather slows work, contractors plan to work through the weekend and open the bridge on Monday, Aug. 29, Elwell added.
The town, in partnership with the state Agency of Transportation, closed the bridge June 27 to replace the almost 70-year-old span's surface or “deck.” The two-month project received funding under the state's accelerated bridge program.
Opening the bridge in time for the start of school on Aug. 30 drove the project's schedule. In Selectboard meetings earlier this year, the board and Agency of Transportation representatives decided to close the bridge and detour traffic in order to shorten the project's duration.
“It moved along really well,” Elwell said.
Department of Public Works staff restricted traffic on the bridge to one lane in 2014 after an 8-by-10-foot hole formed in the deck's concrete.
Funding for the repairs came through a state grant with a 2.5 percent town match. Latest estimates placed the repairs at $600,000 with the state pitching in less than $20,000, said Water and Highway Superintendent Hannah O'Connell in a previous interview.
Selectboard makes decisions on roads
BRATTLEBORO - The Selectboard announced its decisions regarding changes to three roads.
The Aug. 16 announcement came after the board held a public hearing and site visit in June and multiple deliberative sessions, Board Chair David Gartenstein said.
A written decision, now in draft form, is due Aug. 27.
The board decided against taking over Bittersweet Lane, a private road with three houses on it, Gartenstein said. He added, however, that a future board may revisit this decision if more houses are built on the road.
The board also received a request to revert Minshall Street to private ownership. Board members, however, had concerns about giving up complete public access to Minshall Street, a shortcut that connects Birge Street to Canal Street.
According to Gartenstein, Minshall Street also provides access to some local walking and biking trails.
The board decided to abandon the road - and the town's duties to plow and maintain the road - but retain a right-of-way for pedestrians and cyclists looking to access the nearby trail.
On the town's 1860 road maps, Wickopee Hill Road once connected Brattleboro to parts of Marlboro and Dummerston, Gartenstein said.
Now the road acts as access to the town's Pleasant Valley Reservoir, recreational areas, and a driveway for a local property owner.
The property owner, Peter Fillion, asked the board to abandon the road and allow him to gate it.
Gartenstein said the town decided to maintain its ownership and right-of-way of Wickopee Hill Road in order to protect the town's access to Pleasant Valley. The board also wanted to maintain recreation access for hikers and cyclists.
That said, the board saw no reason to continue plowing or grading the entire road, Gartenstein said.
The town will reduce the road's classification from Class 3 to Class 4. Under Vermont's rules, Class 3 roads are maintained for year-round use while Class 4 roads have minimal maintenance requirements. Gartenstein said the property owner is permitted to construct a gate that blocks motor vehicles but still allows foot and bike access.
Construction plans approved for Central Fire Station
BRATTLEBORO - On Aug. 16, the Selectboard unanimously approved the site plan and construction documents for Central Fire Station on Elliot Street.
The approval allows the second phase of the Police-Fire facilities project to open to bidding by subcontractors.
Architect Ray Giolitto presented the plans to the board during a regular meeting. Plans included the renovation work, mechanical systems, and exterior color scheme.
Town Manager Peter Elwell told the board that he expected to provide the Central Station's projected final cost to the board in October.
Work on the first phase of the Police-Fire project started earlier this month when the construction team broke ground for the new Station 2 in West Brattleboro.
Elwell said site plans for the Police station should be ready Sept. 6.
Pool repairs set to begin
BRATTLEBORO - Repairs to remedy leaks at the swimming pool at Living Memorial Park will start soon.
The pool lost thousands of gallons of water during the past several years, Recreation and Parks Director Carol Lolatte said.
On Aug. 16, the Selectboard approved spending $165,500 on the first phase of repairs at the town's pool. Along with fixing the leaks, Lolatte said she expects contractors will find “sink” areas where the leaking water has undermined parts of the pool's concrete.
The board accepted Lolatte's recommendation to hire concrete specialists GS Bolton of Rochester, N.H., for the work. GS Bolton was the only bidder but received enthusiastic reviews from fellow construction companies that Lolatte spoke with, she said.
Repairs ultimately came in $500 over what the town budgeted for the first phase, Lolatte said. The extra money, however, is available through unallocated cash in the town's Capital Fund, Lolatte wrote in a memo to the board.
GS Bolton's bid initially included painting costs but those would have raised the cost by an additional $5,000, Lolatte said. Instead, her department will do the painting, she said.
The contractor expects to do most of its work this fall with completion and painting this spring, Lolatte said. She expects the pool to be ready in time for summer 2017.