Mixed reviews for ongoing road work in Barrington

Some wonder if Maple Avenue will be too narrow after sidewalks are finished

BY Joan D. Warren
Posted 9/19/17

Barrington's street-scape improvement project is underway on Maple Avenue and along West Street, and some people are not happy with it.

"The project is taking too long to complete," said Stan …

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Mixed reviews for ongoing road work in Barrington

Some wonder if Maple Avenue will be too narrow after sidewalks are finished

Posted

Barrington's street-scape improvement project is underway on Maple Avenue and along West Street, and some people are not happy with it.

"The project is taking too long to complete," said Stan Szczepanek, who owns Quality Paint and Wallpaper with his brother Jeff. 

"It has disrupted our business and delivery trucks do not have enough room to back in. The curb cuts are too small. When they are done, delivery trucks will have to park and unload from the street, which will be a traffic problem."

The project, known as "Village Center Connectivity," consists of new sidewalks, trees, site amenities such as benches, crosswalks and street lighting for Maple Avenue, West Street, Wood Avenue and Cottage Street. Waseca Avenue was originally in the plan, but due to cost constraints it will not be included.

The contractor has been working on installing granite curbing and sidewalks on the north side of Maple Avenue between the AAA parking lot and Daisy Dig’ins; on the south side of Maple between West Street and Prince's Hill Avenue; and on West Street.

Currently, sections of sidewalk are being prepped and poured. The final step will be repaving the streets in the project area and landscaping. The project is expected to be "substantially complete" by the end of September.

Stan and Jeff Szczepanek said Maple Avenue will be too narrow once the work is complete.

“This is a busy road, and with the sidewalks, the street will be so narrow I am afraid cars traveling in opposite directions will clip their side windows. I understand the town thinks sidewalks will make Barrington a more walking-friendly business area, but it’s not a walking town like Bristol,” Jeff said.

The brothers agree the streets will look nicer when the construction is complete but think the plan could have been thought-out better.

Others in the area, including Vienna Bakery owner Joe Balasco, seem to be pleased with the construction.

“The foreman and owner of the company doing the work have been incredibly cooperative," said Mr. Balasco.

"Along the way they have listened to my concerns and made adjustments to the design. They have been sensitive to businesses, as have the police details. This project will be a much-needed upgrade to the area."

The construction bid in the amount of $1,285,140.21 was awarded to Hartford Paving Co. of Johnston to include a 10 percent contingency, as recommended by BETA Group, the engineering firm that designed the plans.

Lee Miller, foreman on the project for Hartford Paving, said he has tried to be as accommodating as possible if business owners or residents have had concerns with the design.

“Some people have presented issues and I run it by the town officials and try and address it. Some of their concerns are fixable, others are more difficult. We are trying to be helpful to their needs,” Mr. Miller said.

He said there will be new parking spaces on Cottage Street and West Street and five stamped concrete crosswalks on Maple Avenue, West Street, Wood Street and two on Cottage Street.

The street-scape plan has been four years in the making. 

In 2013, the town engaged Birchwood Design Group to work with the town and other stakeholders to create concepts included in a project that carried a cost estimate of $1.6 million. That amount provided the basis for the Village Center Street Scape bond, which was approved by voters at the Financial Town Meeting in May of 2013.

BETA Group was hired in late 2014, with the Barrington Town Council’s authorization, to complete the engineering necessary to finalize the plans and contract manual. Over the past few years, BETA has worked closely with town officials to refine the plans.

The “first phase” of improvements took place last year on Wood Street.
They will continue the work and add trees between the parking lot and new sidewalks on Cottage Street. The majority of the project should be complete by the end of this month and then repaving begins.

Mr. Miller said throughout the project he has heard more positive comments than negative ones from residents, business owners and passers-by.

“We try and do the majority of work when businesses are not open to avoid disruption for them and their customers,” he said.

Barrington Town Planner Phil Hervey said the project was expanded to add sidewalks farther up on the south side of Maple Avenue. He said the cost of that repaving was not in the original awarded bid.

He also said the town council is considering installing a three-way stop sign at the intersection of Maple Avenue and West Street.

“The council wants to wait and see how things are working after the project is complete before deciding if a stop sign is necessary,” Mr. Hervey said.

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