November 7, 2024 - Stafford, CT
Last month, Selectman Kurt Vail asked Director of Public Works (DPW) Devin Cowperthwaite to put together a report on the costs of the road work done over the past year. The goal was to let the people of Stafford get a more transparent look at where their money is going. On Wednesday night, Cowperthwaite delivered the report at the Board of Selectmen meeting.
DPW completed several paving-related projects in 2024, including New City Road. Paving the stretch of road from Virginia Lane to Beffa Road cost $624,184.27. To break it down further, Cowperthwaite’s memo to the board said that it breaks down to $24.64 per square yard*. Additionally, “Improvements included drainage repairs, base material improvements, asphalt reclaiming, grading, paving, and line striping. Asphalt was laid in two lifts totaling 3.5 inches.”
The DPW applied a chip seal treatment to Leonard Road and Moulton Hill from approximately 700 feet north of Upper Road to the state line. According to Cowperthwaite’s report, this cost $121,670.43, or an average of $2.59 per square yard. This project entailed some drainage repairs, crack sealing, and chip sealing. Cowperthwaite reports that this project is intended to extend the life expectancy of Leonard Road by five to ten years.
Meanwhile, on Barbara Lane, Woodland Drive, and Forest Road DPW addressed small sections with mill and overlay to address chronic pothole areas. “These repairs were made as temporary solutions in anticipation of a future repaving project,” according to the memo. The project cost $16,990.55, at an average cost of $8.69 per square yard.
Importantly, these costs do not include the cost of labor for Town of Stafford employees, fuel, or
the use of town equipment. Cowperthwaite told the board that the DPW cobbled together funding for these projects from a variety of sources:
$193,296.48 came from the 2019 Infrastructure Bond
$391,802.85 came from ARPA
$193,381.48 came from a FY 23 encumbrance
$80,166.70 came from the FY 2024 DPW budget
$23,616.17 came from the FY 2025 DPW Budget
So, where will the money allocated in last year’s budget referendum be spent? According to the memo, “The balance of the FY 2025 DPW paving budget and ARPA paving funds is expected to be expended in the spring of 2025 on Old Springfield Road. The DPW is currently inspecting existing conditions and structures on Old Springfield Road and will begin making drainage repairs over the next several months. The Old Springfield Road project is nearly 4 miles long and is currently estimated to cost $1,141,833.33, though this estimate is subject to change.”
*This article initially said "square foot" instead of "square yard," which was a mistake.