Mayor Stewart Announces Plans for Major Street and Sidewalk Repairs and Upgrades

March 16, 2007

New Britain Mayor Tim Stewart today announced plans to embark on a major program to completely rebuild and realign streets and sidewalks throughout the City of New Britain and to rehabilitate roads in need of serious repairs.

"I am pleased to announce today that the City will soon begin a major street rehabilitation effort designed to rebuild and realign streets and sidewalks throughout the city and to protect this most vital piece of New Britain's infrastructure," Stewart said today.

"The Common Council recently approved a $17 million bond authorization aimed at funding a five-year plan designed to upgrade the condition of streets and sidewalks that are in need of serious repairs. For too long, our rehabilitation program has been inconsistent making it difficult for us to institute a plan to manage these assets properly. This authorizaiton will allow us to finally put into action a comprehensive plan to upgrade our streets and sidewalks on a citywide basis by providing significant long-term financing such a project requires."

The infrastructure rehabilitation plan will enable the City to: 1) assess and evaluate the existing state of the City's street infrastructure to design a comprehensive, consistent and achievable program for maintenance and rehabilitation; 2) put into place the mapping, data and technological resources and procedures to successfully implement and evaluate the program; 3) undertake a consistent, appropriate rehabilitation effort and, 4) design and complete reconstruction projects for selected locations where typical rehabilitation methods are not sufficient.

The primary focus of the program will be pavement rehabilitation including milling, pavement overlays, crack sealing and reconstruction projects.

"This comprehensive rehabilitation program will significantly enhance the appearance we show to people who live in and visit our great city. It will also protect and upgrade the significant infrastructure resource that we have in our streets and sidewalks. New Britain residents willl soon see a significant upgrade in the condition and quality of streets throughout our community. By investing in the upgrade and rehabilitation of streets and sidewalks we will ensure quality streets and sidewalks for the foreseeable future," Stewart concluded.