Residents Question Road Improvements

By Steve Bigham

Neighbors in the Nunnawauk area of town this week voiced displeasure and concern over a town plan to cut down trees in an effort to make road improvements.

Resident Wendy Beres has been outspoken in her opposition of the project, distributing a flyer that alleges the tree removal project has been scheduled to make way for a bypass road along Mile Hill Road South and Nunnawauk Road. She fears it will increase traffic flow and promote faster speeds and additional truck traffic.

On Monday, Mrs Beres and her son, Matthew, submitted a petition to the Board of Selectmen signed by 50 residents requesting that a public hearing be held to discuss the matter. That petition was handed over to Tree Warden Mike McCarthy, who scheduled a public hearing on the tree issue for 9:30 am Friday at the intersection of the two roads. Mrs Beres opposed the site and time of the meeting, saying it would be hard for people to attend.

The town is not required to hold a public hearing for roadwork

Town officials say it will be a long time before any of the tree removal or roadwork takes place because nothing has gone out to bid. This is not happening next week, one town official said.

On Tuesday, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal issued a letter to residents of the area in an attempt to clarify “misinformation” about the Public Works project.

“On Nunnawauk Road, the town plans to remove some large stumps on the side of the road that were left after recent tree trimmings. The tree warden has also marked some trees that pose safety hazards. There are no plans to widen this road,” the letter stated. “Tress along Mile Hill Road South have also been marked for similar reasons.”

In addition, Mr Rosenthal said in his letter, there are some small drainage projects and a road realignment project for about 900 feet of the road. Realignment near 59 Mile Hill Road South is designed to improve a very dangerous, sharp, narrow curve as well as to eliminate a serious drainage problem that results in road flooding and serious icing, Mr Rosenthal said. There will also be a slight widening to create a 22-foot roadway where possible in accordance with the town road ordinance.

“Let me stress that the Town of Newtown neither plans on a major widening of these roads nor a bypass road,” Mr Rosenthal said.