Norwich voters approve $5 million road bond
Norwich — Voters on Tuesday again approved taking out a $5 million bond to improve city streets, bridges, drainage and infrastructure.
Voters approved the bond 3,204 to 1,128, unofficially, giving the city Public Works Department a pool of money to continue its road, bridge and infrastructure improvement program. Voters approved similar measures in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017.
Public Works Director Patrick McLaughlin said nearly $3 million remains in the 2017 bond. The city reconstructs six to eight miles of roadway per year at a cost of $350,000 per mile and has a goal of repaving the city's 162 miles of roadway on a 20-year cycle, he said.
The proposed schedule calls for paving six miles of roads in 2020 in East Great Plain, Laurel Hill, Thamesville and central city, mostly in East Great Plain and Laurel Hill. In 2021, the city plans to repave nearly three miles in Thamesville, two miles on the West Side and one mile in Greeneville.
In 2022, 6.6 miles of roadway would be repaved, including 2.45 miles in Norwichtown, 1.1 miles in Yantic and nearly a mile in Taftville and Plain Hill.
Other proposed work includes $500,000 for minor bridges and culverts, $300,000 for sidewalks and $200,000 for guiderails.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
