Road work will end soon, bridge work could begin

SALISBURY — The sidewalk and curbing project is “progressing nicely,� said First Selectman Curtis Rand at the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen Monday, Nov. 1.

But there is a standard winter shutdown, per the state Department of Transportation, on Dec. 1. The shutdown could be earlier.

“What we don’t want to do is leave things torn up for the winter,� Rand said.

Thus, the crews might well stop before Thanksgiving, depending on where they are.

Thanksgiving Day is Nov. 25; assuming a holiday on Friday, Nov. 26, that would leave just two workdays the following week before November comes to a close.

The work will recommence April 1.

Selectman Bob Riva praised the contractors, Mather Construction of Bloomfield, for not blocking traffic any more than necessary, and for cooperating with events such as funerals and the Fall Festival.

The selectmen approved a resolution authorizing the WMC engineering firm to apply for a federal program for local bridges. Rand and Riva met last week with the Falls Village selectmen to discuss the condition of the one-lane bridge that crosses the Housatonic just upstream of the power station and links the Amesville section of Salisbury with Falls Village.

(The bridge is known variously as the  “Iron Bridge,â€�  the “Amesville Bridge,â€� and the “Water Street Bridge.â€� )

At last week’s meeting Falls Village highway foreman Tim Downs expressed concern about an extended pothole on the east side of the bridge (it has since been repaired).

Rand said the engineers took a quick look last week and said there was a little “bouncing� on the Falls Village side, but it was minor compared to the bounce on the Salisbury end when that side was repaired two years ago.

The application costs neither town anything, nor does it obligate the towns to do anything.

The selectmen considered a request from Skip Barber of Lime Rock Park for assistance in applying to the National Park Service for National Historic Landmark status.

Barber’s letter noted that in 2009 Lime Rock Park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and said the race track’s “history and what it represents justifies the next step: being designated a National Historic Landmark.�

Rand said he was inclined to support Barber’s request, but selectman Jim Dresser struck a cautious note, asking what landmark status would mean.

“Is there any hurry on this?� asked Dresser, adding he felt the selectmen should investigate further before committing.

“It must have some meaning or people wouldn’t bother.�

The matter was tabled and Rand said he would ask Barber for more information.