The town of Middletown is getting busy this fall with plans to pave several local streets. The $2 million project is part of the town’s plan to chip away at its “Red Roads” list of worst local streets.
East Coast Landscaping & Construction will be working on several streets including all or parts of Boulevard, Columbia Road, Ellen Road, Gibson Road, Miant Ekonomi Avenue, Rosedale Terrace and Sherwood Road. As part of the project, the storm drain and sewer systems on Rosedale Terrace will also be reconstructed.
East Coast has completed many projects for the town, including paving, sewer and drainage repair, and athletic field construction, all without delay or complications, according to public works Director Robert Hanley. East Coast was the low bidder of three firms that submitted proposals, coming in more than $300,000 less than the next submission. The town selected East Coast based on need and the condition of the roads.
The city says that funding for the project will come from a variety of sources including $1.1 million from the town’s Capital Improvement Program budget, $400,000 from fund balance, $277,000 from the town’s Sewer Fund and about $128,000 from a Rhode Island Department of Transportation grant. Town officials said the Mitchell’s Lane area will not receive road work until ongoing heavy truck traffic in the area wraps up. Since March 2016, the town has committed at least $1 million annually to the Capital Improvement Program in order to chip away at the roads every year.
More from the Town of Middletown
PAVING & ROAD WORK ON THE WAY IN MIDDLETOWN
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (SEPTEMBER 23, 2024) — Close to $2 million in road work and paving is in store in Middletown.
As part of a recently approved contract by the Town Council, East Coast Landscaping & Construction will be working on several local streets in southwestern Middletown.
Roads on the project list include all or parts of Boulevard, Columbia Road, Ellen Road, Gibson Road, Miantonomi Avenue, Rosedale Terrace and Sherwood Road. Reconstruction of the storm drain and sewer systems on Rosedale Terrace is also part of the effort.
The town has a Sept. 26 informational meeting at 6 pm in Town Hall for anyone looking to learn more about the project.
“East Coast has completed many projects for the town,” public works Director Robert Hanley said. “Paving, sewer and drainage repair, athletic field construction without delay or complications.”
East Coast was the low bidder of three firms that submitted proposals. The Portsmouth company was more than $300,000 less than the next submission.
Hanley said given East Coast’s success with a number of projects across the community from reconstructing JH Dwyer Drive to work in Easton’s Point, Slate Hill Farm and a number of other neighborhoods, it made sense to award them the contract.
To view a copy of the memo provided to the council prior to unanimously approving the paving contract, visit https://www.middletownri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16106/East-Coast-Construction-Work online.
Finance Director Marc Tanguay said a mix of money would be used to pay for the upcoming work. More than $1.1 million would come from the town’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget, with $400,000 plus from fund balance. Another $277,000 would be used from the town’s Sewer Fund and about $128,000 from a Rhode Island Department of Transportation grant.
Hanley said the projects were selected based on need and the condition of the roads.
In March 2016, the town released its “Roadway Pavement Management System,” better known as the town’s “Red Roads” list most requiring improvements.
Since then, the town has typically built at least $1 million in money into the annual CIP budget to do road work where it’s most necessary. That way, the community can chip away at paving every year without hiking the tax rate or having to ask for bond funding.
As for Mitchell’s Lane, town officials reminded residents that road hasn’t been addressed yet for a very specific reason — and not because work wasn’t needed. Rather, they said due to ongoing significant heavy truck traffic in that area, it didn’t make sense to redo Mitchell’s Lane now, but wait until that work wraps up to avoid damaging a new road surface.
To check out the “Red Roads” report, go to https://mdl.town/Red-Roads online. Prior to their vote on the East Coast contract, council President Paul Rodrigues asked town staff to provide an updated “Red Roads” inventory list as soon as possible.
He also applauded the town for continuing its work to improve and maintain its infrastructure, just like people would do at their homes.
“This is great,” council President Paul Rodrigues said. “This is something that taxpayers can see. That’s important.”
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
