21st-Century Potholes?
The chorus of complaints about the condition of Route 27 and the state's decision to hold off on much-needed repairs until the year 2000 is growing louder.
Last week, the East Hampton Town Board agreed to join other local officials in "definite opposition" to the proposed starting date: December 2000. East Hampton Village Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. and State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. have already written to the State Department of Transportation on the issue.
Low-Accident, Low-Priority
"Route 27 has been allowed by the state to deteriorate to a poor, unacceptable condition," reads a resolution introduced by Town Supervisor Cathy Lester at last Thursday's Town Board meeting.
Indeed, those who drive the highway every day get to know the standard potholes well enough to swerve around them without thinking about it. When the traffic is too busy for slalom-driving, motorists pray their shock absorbers will hold out.
The Town Highway Department can do little to change the condition of this road, a main access route for tourists, commuters, and emergency vehicles. Route 27 is a state highway under the care of the D.O.T., which is charged with repairing the cracking pavement and drainage problems, signing off on pavement-striping and shoulder repairs, and generally keeping the East End's most traveled road in working order.
"We're still negotiating with our main office on what projects should have priority," Bart Howe, the assistant to the regional director of the D.O.T., said Tuesday.
The Route 27 project is of low priority, because, he said, "this location has a low accident rate."
A 'Quick Fix'?
The regional office is aware of local sentiment, Mr. Howe acknowledged, but he said it was still unlikely this project would make it to the front of the line.
"We could negotiate with our main office to maybe do a quick fix," he said. But he added, "We call it quick, but I don't know how quickly it could be done."
A "quick fix," he explained, would improve the condition of the pavement with "one or two coats of asphalt," but would not address some of the larger problems that cause the road to deteriorate under the stress of heavy use and inclement weather.
Economic Effect
On the East End, the D.O.T. tries not to do roadwork of this kind between Memorial Day and Labor Day because of the detrimental effects on the local economy.
Assuming the Band-Aid approach was taken, work would have to start today or wait until after this Labor Day, or the next one, or the one after that.
"If the people said: Do it right away, we don't care about that, then, well. . . ." Mr. Howe ventured, reluctant to make promises and well aware of the traffic nightmares that could ensue with a blocked highway on a summer weekend.
"This job has been pushed off quite a bit," he admitted.
To Promote Tourism
The Town Board has forwarded a copy of its resolution berating the decision to various officials in the D.O.T., to local government officials, and to the various citizens advisory committees in the town.
Also at its meeting last Thursday, the board:
Agreed to give $7,000 apiece to the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce and the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, and $1,000 to the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce for promotion of tourism in the town.
Authorized emergency road repairs on Towhee Trail, a private road in Northwest Woods.
Signed off on the town funding for the East Hampton drug and alcohol treatment center, APPLE (A Planned Program for Life Enrichment). APPLE has asked for the funding now so it can obtain a line of credit.