Grant sought to repair North Main Street

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NAUGATUCK — The borough is pursuing a grant to make repairs to what one official described as the “worst main road” in Naugatuck.

Officials are seeking a $3.6 million state grant to fix a section of North Main Street from the bottom of the Route 8 exit 27 off-ramp to Union Street, which is approximately half a mile.

Public Works Director James Stewart, who described the street as the worst main road in Naugatuck, said the work would include repaving about 2,400 linear feet of the street, installing 3,000 linear feet of new sidewalk and repairs to the storm drainage system.

Stewart, who spoke on the proposed project during the Board of Mayor and Burgesses meeting this month, added officials are also looking into whether bicycle lanes and on-street parking could be incorporated on the street.

Burgess Patrick Scully said North Main Street is in dire need of repairs.

“Right now, when you go through it, it’s like a washing board,” Scully said.

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments has endorsed the borough’s application for the grant, and will submit a list of recommended proposals to the state for funding through the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program.

Stewart said the council was confident that Naugatuck’s grant application would be accepted by the state Department of Transportation.

“What [the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments] told us is get going and move as quickly as we can. We want to get the road paved. Once the contract is signed, I am going to say start surveying now while we don’t have any snow cover and start the application process. We can start our design while the DOT is sorting the applications through,” Stewart said.

If the application is approved, Naugatuck would only be responsible to pay for the engineering work.

The board awarded the contract for the engineering work to Milone & MacBroom of Cheshire for about $95,000. Stewart said the company provided the lowest of three bids.

Stewart said the borough has also applied for grants to make improvements to Rubber Avenue and the Cotton Hollow Bridge.