Barkhkamsted voters to review road project

BARKHAMSTED — A special informational meeting will be held Tuesday, May 5, at Barkhamsted Elementary School to discuss the proposed resurfacing project of Robertsville Road. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the town’s annual budget meeting.

The proposed road work will replace the stretch of Robertsville Road from Riverton Center to the Colebook town line on Route 8 north. Town officials are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, since the roadway intersects two state roads. They also anticipate a substantial cost refund through a federal highway program.

“It needs work,†said First Selectman Don Stein about Robertsville Road. “Colebrook resurfaced their [portion of the] road a few years ago and now we are going to do our piece.â€

While plans are underway, Stein anticipated that actual construction will not begin until next spring at the earliest.

“We have to go through the design process. The state has to approve everything and they don’t think that they would be able to do anything until next spring, by the time we went to bid and everything like that,†said Stein.

Total cost of the project, which will resurface about 3,900 feet of roadway, address drainage issues and improve sight lines, is anticipated to be around $307,000; however, 80 percent of the funds are reimbursable though the Federal Highway Administration, said Stein.

Stein said residents will have the opportunity to provide input on the project and ask questions during the town meeting May 5 at 7 p.m. Stein also noted that while the project may create some minor inconveniences for travelers and residents of Robertsville Road, the road will not be shut down completely at any time during work on the project.

For more information about the project, Stein said he is urging all residents to attend the meeting, call Town Hall at 860-379-8285 or e-mail dstein@barkhamsted.us.