Published: 7/3/2021 4:50:21 PM
SUNDERLAND — The current state of North Main Street’s construction has raised complaints and safety concerns, but Town Administrator Geoff Kravitz said the Select Board can only do so much.
“The Select Board has discussed it. We sent a letter to the highway district,” Kravitz said. “We’re trying to be as helpful as possible by connecting people with resources.”
North Main Street is a part of state Route 47, which makes this a state construction project, thus limiting the town’s ability to get involved. Kravitz said he knows the road is in rough shape through his own experience on it, but residents just need to take their time because the project is more than a simple repaving.
“It’s a road reconstruction project. It’s a little messier than just peeling the top layer off,” he said. “The hope is once the first layer of pavement is done, then it’s much safer.”
The street is undergoing a full reconstruction, which requires a more intensive and rugged process than other projects. The work also includes widening nearby sidewalks and replacing a storm drain underneath the road. A construction schedule is available at: bit.ly/3usw9CP. The project is expected to be mostly completed by October.
Kravitz said residents should contact the state Department of Transportation with complaints or concerns.
Select Board Chairman Tom Fydenkevez said the town recognizes citizens’ complaints.
“The board understands everyone’s concerns,” Fydenkevez said. “We are as frustrated as they are.”
He said this project has been “beyond inconvenient” and it is “at times exasperating,” noting that the town has difficulty getting responses from MassDOT.
Sunderland resident Stanley Gochinski said his son broke a rim when driving on North Main Street after hitting a pothole “because it was so deep.” He said the road is in bad enough shape he had difficulties in his truck.
“They left the structures so high,” Gochinski said. “I drive a pickup and I was straddling it.”
Gochinski said the road needs to be left in a better state when construction is done for the day.
“The way they’re leaving the road is really disgusting,” Gochinski said.
The project is contracted to Baltazar Contractors Inc. of Ludlow. Baltazar Project Manager Justin Roy directed all questions to MassDOT.
Matt Minihan, the state engineer assigned to the project, said MassDOT’s policy forbids him from speaking to the press. The MassDOT communications office did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
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