DPW Director Confirms Replacement of Crumbling Concrete on East Milton Deck
Key Points
- MassDOT has agreed to replace crumbling concrete panels on the East Milton deck due to faulty original specifications.
- DPW Director Marina Fernandez highlighted that curb-to-curb paving projects now trigger mandatory ADA sidewalk upgrades.
- The $6.49 million appropriation was approved unanimously by the body.
- Members called for better long-term planning for road maintenance and increased use of traffic calming measures.
The debate over Article 11, a $6,495,834 appropriation for Public Works, centered on infrastructure quality and the town's long-term paving strategy. Member Brian Kelly raised a pointed concern regarding the newly constructed East Milton deck, noting that the walkways are already showing signs of failure. The walkways in the new deck are all crumbling,
Kelly said. It absolutely amazes me that this is such a new redo that it's not lasting.
DPW Director Marina Fernandez confirmed that the concrete specifications used for the project were faulty, leading to the premature deterioration. However, she informed Town Meeting that MassDOT has agreed to replace the panels at no additional cost to the town. Fernandez also fielded questions regarding ADA compliance, explaining that whenever the town paves a road from curb to curb, at least one side of the sidewalk must be brought into compliance with federal accessibility standards.
Additional discussion included a request from Member Loy Walker for a detailed 3-to-5-year road plan and a suggestion from Member Bill White to implement more speed humps to mitigate cut-through traffic. Fernandez directed residents to the current paving schedule available on the town website, emphasizing the department's focus on maintaining the town's roadway network within the approved budget.
Motion: To appropriate $6,495,834 for Public Works.
Vote: Passed 200-0-0