State to ask Norwich to own, maintain some proposed Route 82 improvements
May 17—NORWICH — City leaders might not like the roundabouts proposed for Route 82-West Main Street, but they will be asked on Monday to own and maintain portions of the project.
The first of two phases of Route 82 reconstruction calls for installing single-lane roundabouts at the Asylum-Mechanic streets and the Osgood Street intersections, a raised median divider and removing three traffic lights. One break is planned in the median divider with an eastbound left turn lane to access a shopping plaza on the opposite side.
The $30 million project is a scaled-down version of the state Department of Transportation's initial plan. But it was met with opposition from residents and business owners during a public information meeting in January.
At Monday's 7:30 p.m. meeting, the council will be asked to authorize City Manager John Salomone to sign an agreement with the state to take ownership and maintenance responsibility for portions of the improvements. The requests are standard procedures, based on state statutes cited by DOT officials in a letter to Salomone.
For the proposed roundabout at Osgood Street, the state plans to acquire a short private road, called Crane Avenue, across from Osgood. The first resolution Monday calls for the city to accept Crane Avenue as a public street upon completion of the project.
The second resolution calls for the city to "assume full responsibility for the maintenance, repairs, and rehabilitation of the sidewalks, bicycle lanes, pavement markings, (flashing beacons), preemption devices, bus stop signage and bus shelter constructed within the project limits."
Norwich also would assume responsibility for landscaping and the energy costs of decorative lighting along the way.
Alderwoman Shiela Hayes said the two resolutions do not mean the council would endorse roundabouts on Route 82 but only on the standard, technical process of accepting maintenance responsibility.
"We are not approving the roundabouts," Hayes said.
