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Officials hear about Old County Road

WILTON – An offer by Fred and Kay Rodel to repair the stone arch bridge and its abutments in exchange for closing Old County Road – in effect making it a private driveway – was much appreciated by those attending a public hearing, but most said the road should remain public.

The Select Board said any final decision has to be made by a town meeting. Only the voters can discontinue a road.

About 40 people attended the hour-long meeting at the town hall on Monday.

Board Member Matt Fish described the problem. Two years ago a storm washed out a section of the retaining wall on one side of the historic arch. Emergency repairs were made, experts have been consulted, brush cleared, and all required state permits have been obtained. There are no structural problems with the bridge itself, which was built in 1888.

The bridge, he said, “is 40 feet high, a massive structure and would be a massive job.” It is approached from Burton Highway by about 600 feet of causeway crossing a low area beside the brook.

There are two problems: the cost of a “proper, historically accurate” repair, and the southern part of Old County Road, which connects with Route 101, is a class 6 road. If the Burton Highway end were closed, the other end, almost a mile, would have to be upgraded. About a half mile at that end is class 5, but the central section, almost a mile, is unmaintained. It was recently classified as “an emergency lane” allowing minimal upgrade during the bridge work.

Recommendations from the state, backed up by court cases, indicate that a town should not discontinue a road, that public rights have to be considered.

Chairman Kermit Williams said state bridge is available only if the repaired bridge met current standards, “requirements that can’t be met” if the historic aspects are to be maintained.

The minimum cost of repair has been estimated at $160,000 and reconstruction at about $600,000, replacing the original dry-stone construction.

Fred Roedel,a resident for over 40 years, who owns both sides of the bridge and causeway, called the bridge historic, “a real gem that if not maintained could collapse.” He said he had talked with “the preservation people,” and would do it their way. “We got involved when the town said they would close it, we and said there must be another way. I’m not trying to own the bridge.”

Planning Board member Alex MacMartin said, according to his research, “the bridge was built by people who built railroad bridges” and could support a lot of weight. “the problem is caused by drainage above the causeway. We ought to keep the road open. We can’t tell what will happen 100 years from now. Why not explore a joint enterprise and (find a result) that will please everyone?”

Concern about the southern end, should the bridge be made private, was expressed by several residents, including Assistant Fire chief Ron Caswell. Unless the road is brought up to class 5 standards and regularly maintained by the town, an expensive proposition, “it will just revert to what it is now,” mainly impassable.

Resident Deb Degan added, “It is always a mistake to give away a road. We are shirking our civic duty if we don’t fix the road for fire trucks.”

Other speakers worried about setting a precedent – how many other landmarks would become private and closed to the public?

The general consensus was to fix the drainage and keep the road.

The Select Board will continue to discuss the problem, prepare a question for the next town meeting, and do what is necessary in the meantime.

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