Many Roads, Many Decisions

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Created on Friday, 22 March 2013 15:25
Written by Joseph Peters

many roads many decisionsNORTHEAST KINGDOM - Town meetings are over and town and state highway budgets are set. Now, it's time to work on the roads.

In Sheffield, it's not a question of when construction crews will begin work on the roads. Route 122, the main road connecting Lyndon and Sheffield, has been a concern for Northeast Kingdom residents for years. VTrans announced recently that the route is on their draft list of upcoming road projects. That means that they intend to work on the road, but it doesn't guarantee that the work will actually happen. If all goes according to schedule, Route 122 will be repaved in 2016, and the worst parts of the road will be levelled this year.

"It's about time," said Suzanne Smith, a Sheffield resident. "The road is in terrible shape. Those of us who have to use it frequently are finding it's [causing] wear and tear on [our] cars, so we're very happy they're addressing the problem, and we'll be very happy when it's done." Smith, like many Sheffield residents, believes that the road has gone ignored by VTrans for years.

In Lyndon, paving isn't the issue. At Tuesday's annual meeting of the village, townspeople discussing plans to turn Elm Street into a one-way road.

"It's worth considering," said the town's municipal administrator, Dan Hill. "Certainly, we did not get a resounding amount of support for it at the annual town meeting."

"It really isn't going to a solve a problem that exists," said Peter Morrissette, a lawyer whose practice is located on Elm St.one of those opposed to the change. "I don't think that there is a problem as far as parking, and I'm not convinced that the safety is any worse on Elm St. than it is on any other street."

The transition from a two-way street to a one-way street is far from confirmed, and if Morrissette and others get their way, it likely won't get past the idea phase. As winter comes to a close and construction season begins in earnest, these two roads won't be the only ones subject to debate.