Smithtown board OKs $5.47M in funds for road program

Smithtown Town Hall is seen in an undated photo. Credit: Erin Geismar
Smithtown board members have approved the 2016 road program at about $5.47 million.
The road program, approved March 17, includes the reconstruction of 1.39 miles of road and the milling and paving of 21 miles of road, as well as concrete improvements of curves and aprons, said town highway superintendent Robert Murphy.
This year’s road program represents a more than $1 million decrease in funding from the 2015 road program, which was roughly $6.59 million, officials said.
Councilman Thomas McCarthy said the decrease “reflects the money that hasn’t been spent in prior years. There’s no reason to fund additional money that’s not being spent on the backs of the taxpayers.”
Murphy, who was appointed highway superintendent in February, said he planned to ensure that road construction was correctly coordinated and that concrete work takes place before asphalt work begins at the same location. He said his chief goal was to get as much work finished as possible during the warm weather.
“We are going to be issuing all work orders for concrete and asphalt; this way the appropriate repairs will be overseen in a timely fashion,” said Murphy.
He said the highway department plans to issue concrete work to Ridge-based Laser Industries at the beginning of April. Town board members voted to extend Laser’s bid for concrete work last month.
Board members have not yet awarded the contract for asphalt bids.
Road reconstruction is scheduled on Ellie Lane, Heide Court South, and Old Commack Road. Paving will take place throughout the town, according to the road program listing.
Murphy said he was “prepared and excited to meet the demand” of managing the town’s road program for the first time.
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