Published in the August 21, 2018 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – The Department of Public Works summer paving program is proceeding, with streets like Greenwood Avenue, Wakefield Avenue, Jefferson Road, Hamilton Road and Vernon Street completed and more to come, DPW Director Richard Stinson told the Advisory Board of Public Works last night.
Stinson said that while the paving has been done, some minor work remains on the foregoing streets, such as traffic markings and work on the grass strips. Stinson said the recent rainy weather has caused delays. He noted that getting the traffic markings done is especially important on Greenwood Avenue near the Greenwood School.
Board Chairman David West said that he was very pleased to see the newly paved potion of Vernon Street (from Water to Salem Street), but he wondered what determined which portion of Vernon Street got repaved.
“Very simple,” Stinson said. “It’s where the Gas Department has finished.” The DPW and the Municipal Gas & Light Department try to coordinate projects so that planned utility work is done before a street is repaved in order to avoid digging up recently paved streets.
Stinson noted that Paul Avenue and Doyle Avenue are scheduled to be repaved this week. After that, a portion in the rear of Wakefield Memorial High School is scheduled to be paved, as well as the circular driveway in front of the Woodville School. Jordan Avenue, Lawrence Street and Toby Lane are planned for the fall, Stinson added, along with Mt. Pleasant Avenue and the roadways in Forest Glade Cemetery.
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Work on the Water Street Bridge (at the Saugus line) will be completed this month, Stinson reported to the board. He said that the project is basically done now, with only punch list items remaining to be completed.
“The contractor did a great job,” Stinson said. Wakefield teamed with Saugus to obtain a $500,000 grant to fix the bridge. Stinson said the project is coming in close to budget. If it goes over, Wakefield and Saugus will split the difference, but Stinson said that it shouldn’t amount to much.
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Stinson reported to the board on the status of the Complete Streets program, whereby Wakefield has adopted a policy that roadway users of all ages and abilities will be accommodated by creating a transportation network that meets the needs of individuals using a variety of transportation modes, including walking, biking, transit and vehicles. By adopting the Complete Streets policy, the town becomes eligible to go to the state and ask for $400,000.00 in capital improvement money to fund initiatives.
Stinson told the board that the town initially identified over 80 potential projects, but that will be narrowed down to about 15-20 priority items that will be submitted to the state. He said that the town is trying to hit a September deadline in order to be eligible for the next round of funding.
Board member Christopher Tarr said that he had some concerns with Complete Streets, such as what impact possible bike lanes on Main Street might have on angle parking. He said that he was worried that a move to parallel parking could lead to a loss of spaces in the downtown.
Stinson said that the next Complete Streets Working Group meeting will be on Aug. 17.
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In response to a question from the board, Stinson reported that National Grid has done some surveying and marking of trees in the abandoned railroad bed between Water and Salem streets in preparation for the planned National Grid/Eversource underground transmission line. He said that other than that work, National Grid will wait for the appeals filed by Stoneham and Winchester to be settled before any other work is done, probably in the spring of 2019.
