Residents spoke at last Tuesday’s town board work session on whether the town should pave the last unpaved half-mile of road in New Castle.
April 23, 2010
by Randolph B. Randolph
To the Editor,
Due to the deteriorating condition of the dirt section of Old Roaring Brook Road the Town of New Castle is considering allocating substantial resources (approximately $100,000 – $800,000) to pave this ½ mile stretch of road. While in the long run paving will reduce maintenance costs below current levels (now between $13,000 and $30,000 per year, according to the town), I believe it is important that the town consider other alternatives that may be more cost effective yet preserve the unique character of this roadway.
My family has lived on Old Roaring Brook Road for over 50 years. Over this time we have witnessed a significant increase in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Old Roaring Brook Road is a pre-revolutionary war roadway with many blind corners and hills as well as narrow widths. It is fair to say that this road was not designed for today’s high-speed driver. Many of the road’s residents understand and sympathize with those seeking a roadway in better condition. But we also fear that once it is paved the road will see a substantial increase in traffic, speeds and accidents.
The Town Highway Department has done a heroic but Sisyphean job in filling in holes and smoothing out bumps. Before we decide to pave, the town needs to consider improved dirt alternatives that may prove more cost effective while also creating a slower and safer driving experience given the existing roadway design.
Having lived in Vermont for 6 years I have traveled many a dirt road and the vast majority seem to hold up considerably better than Old Roaring Brook Road. The problem on Old Roaring Brook appears to be related to slope and drainage. In discussions with other long time residents of the road, development in nearby areas since the 1980s has created and then exacerbated the drainage problems.
Hopefully there is a long-term solution that incorporates an improved dirt roadway with better drainage to minimize the ongoing maintenance needs of the road. It is my hope that the town can find a way to provide a safe driving experience, conserve capital spending budgets for other uses and preserve a part of New Castle that many enjoy (hence the significant pedestrian traffic) and that is disappearing in our town. This is the last section of dirt road in all of New Castle and I sincerely hope the Town Board takes the time to examine alternatives before paving over something that can never be recreated.
Whenever one is in New York City and sees an old house wedged between the two skyscrapers, we realize that these connections to the past are what provide character to a town or city. With over 140 miles of roadway in New Castle, I wonder whether we really must pave the last ½ mile. While progress is important and necessary, there are sometimes ways to effectively bridge the past, present and future. An improved dirt road, with better drainage and new grading, and lasting solely ½ a mile, is a worthwhile way to achieve this balance.
Sincerely,
Randolph B. Randolph
Where the paving stops
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