This year’s paving extended into the outskirts of downtown and those in charge obviously weren’t used to dealing with so much traffic. There didn’t seem to be a good traffic control plan as sometimes Green and North State Streets were closed at the same time and motorists were driving the wrong way on one-way streets. The traffic control people didn’t seem familiar with the area and couldn’t give good advice. They put up generic “Emergency No Parking” signs instead of more useful “No Parking Mon-Fri 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.”
Asphalt particles should’ve been cleaned off the sidewalks the same day the paving was done to prevent tracking into homes and businesses. If not part of the contract this should’ve been done by city forces. There are still some clumps left which will eventually wash into catch basins, although authorities would be irate if somebody proactively swept them. A sinkhole caused by a truck parking on the sidewalk by 26 Centre St. during cold planing wasn’t repaired for two weeks. For a similar time pieces of a cast iron shutoff cover were left on the lawn by the library, maybe the one missing nearby on Centre St. There was still a manhole cover on the sidewalk the last time I looked although the nearby street has been repaved. I can’t believe this would be allowed to happen on Main St., but once again city officials proved they don’t care about the rest of the city. It’s time for some new leadership.
Roy Schweiker
Concord