It was only a few years ago that it seemed the Norwalk DPW placed a greater priority on building speed bumps over fixing roads. Mayor Richard Moccia, then candidate, once famously commented, “In Norwalk you drive on pot holes hoping a road will pop up.” The best example of the problem is Quintard street, where, under the previous administration 3 speed bumps were installed on road pitted with potholes, ruts and erosion.

Repaving roads became a priority when Moccia became mayor, but road wear alone was not the cause of some of the worsening road conditions. One major culprit is the excavation pits for the various utility companies. The hodegepodge patches are obvious on Quintard, and roads like Main ave. But the responsibility for road management is blurred between city roads and state roads. Main ave, is a state road, so while drivers complain that the ruts caused by the CL & P’s excavation are left in a shoddy state, the CT DOT bears the responsibility, not Norwalk’s DPW.

For city owned roads, DPW has exerted its influence by working with the Mayor and Common Council to focus on planning, prevention and cost management as priorities. One of those initiatives was reported in The Hour today:

On Tuesday night, Director of Public Works Harold F. Alvord explained to the Common Council’s Ordinance Committee proposed changes to that section of the City Charter titled “Excavations and Encroachments in Public Streets and Grounds.”

“Right now, we’re maintaining an unofficial, if you will, moratorium on digging up city streets for one year after they’ve been repaved,” Alvord said. “What we’re proposing here is to add an actual legal 2-year moratorium on digging up city streets. So for two years following a repaving of a street, no permit would be issued for excavating that street.”

Afterward, committee Chairman Michael W. Coffey called for a public hearing to be scheduled on the proposed changes. The full council ultimately will decide whether to approve the revisions.

The move is a good one, and demonstrates the strong focus on proactive government instead covering up the source problems. Tensions between the city and its antiquated city taxing districts, which are always a good source of ethics controversies, (often in the first and second districts) were addressed as well. Again from The Hour:

In another proposed change, public works staff has added language that makes clear that the city’s taxing districts also would be subject to the excavation regulations. Alvord said the addition stems from debate between the city and taxing districts on whether they qualify as utility companies.

Alvord said the 1st and 2nd Taxing District water companies, and more recently Yankee Gas, are responsible for most excavations. A public works engineer now meets monthly with officials from the those entities to discuss projects involving roads. As an example of cooperation, Alvord said the city postponed repaving the northern section of East Rocks Road so the 1st Taxing District could install a new water main.

One of the Democrats many rumored mayoral candidates, Bill Krummel supported the regulation, from The Hour:

William M. Krummel, chairman of the council’s Public Works Committee, said the tougher regulations will encourage utility companies to plan ahead.

“You’re asking them to think ahead. ‘This road may be paved next summer. If it is going to be paved, I can put my cable or pipe line in beforehand,’” said Krummel, anticipating utility companies’ reaction.

Krummel said the regulations are aimed at helping Alvord maintain city streets with limited resources.

“Anytime you cut into the roads for the purpose of putting in a pipe or cable, the patch never gets done right. It’s a patch that sometimes sinks, it sometimes breaks up under freezing conditions. It destroys the quality of the road,” Krummel said. Alvord “doesn’t have the money he wants. He doesn’t have the staff he wants, so he’s trying to make do with whatever he’s got to keep the roads in good condition.”

This may be Krummel at his best, but if anyone has any ideas about who should run for mayor on the Democratic side, please contact Galen Wells.

Doug Hempstead, longtime advocate for roads and infrastructure voiced concerns about the facility of obtaining emergency excavation permits, but was in support of the moratorium.

Although this is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done. Inspections of the patchwork needs to follow a muti-season review period. Patches should restore the roads to the same condition or better. Inspections should cover a multi-season period, and contractors should be required to pay fines for shoddy patches.

With the price of gas rising, and cars containing more sophisticated technology, rutted pot hole filled roads cost Norwalkers money. While it may be good for the car repair business, it is not good for residents who expect more from their government.

Source: Committee proposes 2-year moratorium on digging up city streets after repaving By ROBERT KOCH The Norwalk Hour Februrary 22, 2007