Rockville Centre to release road study

Nearly 46 miles of a total of 53 miles of Rockville Centre roads were rated “average” or better in an evaluation undertaken by an independent engineering consulting firm, according to an executive summary of its report.

The study, conducted by Dvirka and Bartilucci Consulting Engineers, was commissioned to help the village prioritize road improvements over the next three to five years. It was completed and presented to the village Board of Trustees in August 2010, and is expected to be made available in full on the village website around Sept. 1. “It’s expected to include links to the engineering study as well as explanations of the construction process on the affected roadways,” said village spokesman Jeff Kluewer.

More than seven miles of roadway received ratings of C minus to F, while nearly 32 miles received grades of B minus or better. According to the report, the strong ratings were due in large part to the fact that many roads were constructed of concrete, and others had a combination of concrete surface and asphalt shoulder. “Concrete’s ability to withstand longer periods of wear, when compared to traditional asphalt, allowed these types of road to achieve a higher rating,” the report stated.

According to Village Administrator Frank Quigley, it is reasonable to conclude that the heavy snowfall and subsequent freezing and thawing last winter had an impact on road surfaces. Quigley explained that the plan is to work on the roads that were in the worst condition at the time of the study.

The only two roads to receive a failing grade were Harvard Avenue, between DeMott and Lakeview avenues, and a small section of Windham Road south of Columbia Road to the dead end, not including the intersection. There were 29 sections of roadway that received grades of D.

According to Kluewer, the village’s 2011 Roadway Program includes repaving the two F-rated streets as well as several that were given D’s. He said that trustees hope to have all the D-rated streets reconstructed by 2013.

Kluewer also said that in addition to repaving, the work would also include reconstructing roadbeds and street drainage, replacing curbs and fixing water and electric distribution systems where

needed.

The cost of reconstructing the worst streets is approximately $1.6 million per mile, Kluewer said, while costs for the water and electric work could add an additional $1.7 million overall. Roadway repairs are funded by capital-budget bonds whose debt service is paid by the village general fund, which is largely supported by real estate tax revenues.

Since 1986, the village has repaired nearly 70 percent of its roads, Kluewer said, adding that some streets in the village are actually owned and maintained by Nassau County, while New York state owns and maintains Sunrise Highway.

The total cost of repairing the roadways rated with a C minus or lower was estimated by the 2010 study to be $11.4 million. Since that time, the estimated cost of the work has increased by approximately $100,000 per mile.

The village hopes to have all of its D-rated roads repaired by 2013. Here are some of the 29 streets that received the second poorest grade in the 2010 report:

River Avenue

From Shelton Court to village border 0.17 miles

Overlook Lane

0.15 miles

Bulson Road

From Atkinson Rd. to Allen Rd. 0.15 miles

Wright Road

From N. Village Ave. to Buckminster Rd. 0.13 miles

Allen Road

From Buckminster Rd. to Windham Rd. 0.12 miles

Nassau Street

From Banks Ave. to West End 0.10 miles

Arrandale Road

From Tamwood Court to Kenwood Court — 0.05 miles

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