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

Easements sought for road project

By Ed Richter

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — 

    To prepare for the planned widening of a2-mile stretch of Oxford State Road, the city is working to acquire the necessaryright-of-way easements needed from various properties along the route.

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

    A first reading has already been held onthe legislation to acquire the property for the easements. This is the firststep in the legal process to acquire properties that did not accept the fairmarket value offered for the property.

    According to a city staff report, generallythe acquisition consists of a narrow strip of land 12 feet wide or less acrossthe front of the properties to construct utilities, driveways, etc. The totalfair market value of the properties to be appropriated is $183,145, accordingto the staff report.

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

ScottTadych, Middletown’spublic works and utilities director, said the $5.3 million road constructionproject is scheduled to start in 2016.

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

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

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

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