Posted: 6:00 a.m. Monday, March 30, 2015

Easements sought for road project

By  http://www.journal-news.com/staff/ed-richter/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

    To prepare for the planned widening of a 2-mile stretch of Oxford State Road, the city is working to acquire the necessary right-of-way easements needed from various properties along the route.

    Middletown City Council will vote at its April 7 meeting to begin the appropriation of right-of-way easements on these properties in order to relocate utility lines prior to construction.

    A first reading has already been held on the legislation to acquire the property for the easements. This is the first step in the legal process to acquire properties that did not accept the fair market value offered for the property.

    According to a city staff report, generally the acquisition consists of a narrow strip of land 12 feet wide or less across the front of the properties to construct utilities, driveways, etc. The total fair market value of the properties to be appropriated is $183,145, according to the staff report.

    The city will continue to negotiate with the property owners in an attempt to reach a settlement, but the appropriation process is necessary to obtain the property in a timely manner, according to city documents.

Scott Tadych, Middletown’s public works and utilities director, said the $5.3 million road construction project is scheduled to start in 2016.

    “This project will be similar to the project on Yankee Road,” he said.

    About $3.1 million of the total is federally funded, along with $700,000 in state funding that will be used in addition to local funds for the project.

    Tadych said Oxford State Road would be widened with heavy-duty pavement to accommodate truck traffic between Yankee Road and Spurlino Way.

    Among the other improvements planned are the addition of left turn lanes, curbs and gutters, a drainage system, replacing traffic signals, and lessening a curve in the road.