Aberjona River Widening Could Be Delayed a Year

There may be a delay in the project that was scheduled to begin this July. If the town decides to move a proposed sidewalk to the western bank of the river, it’s possible that construction may not begin until 2012.

Why would such a change push this flood relief project back for one year?

“It’s an extremely complicated permit process,” said Town Engineer Beth Rudolph. “We have to get approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.”

Board Member Lance Grenzeback found the permit process for the project confusing.

“It is complex enough that I don’t have a clear idea who reviews it, or how it goes,” he said.

The reason for the potential change from the original channel-widening plan is because there is concern that the current placement of the sidewalk may be a safety issue.

Thomas Howley, Chair of the Board of Selectmen, sent a letter to the Planning Board outlining the selectmen’s position.

“Beyond the issue of delay, however, the Board of Selectmen believes that the location of the sidewalk is necessary for both the safety and convenience of pedestrians and those parking on the Parkway,” said Howley.

The Aberjona is to be widened between Waterfield Road and Mystic Avenue to minimize the amount of flood-waters that overflow onto and into the Manchester Road neighborhood.

The selectmen's preferred plan would narrow Mystic Valley Parkway along Manchester Field, leaving a five-foot wide sidewalk and a three-foot guardrail space between the Parkway and the river. Most of the existing green space and trees along that section would be lost to make room for the widened channel.

The board wants to eliminate what they feel would be a narrow and potentially unsafe sidewalk along the west side of Mystic Valley Parkway and instead, replant the area to maintain the area as a green way.

To replace the sidewalk, Planning Board members would like to improve the area between the river and the Aberjona parking lot to provide a cleaner, quieter and safer pedestrian and bikeway between Waterfield Road and

No final decisions have been made. Planning Board Chair Drew Bottaro was unsure why the entire project would have to be held up simply due to the location of the sidewalk.

“If there is no substantial delay, we’d like to have this considered,” Bottaro said. “The idea is to request information as to why there would be a delay.”

But Howley explained that any request would delay the river-widening project by one year.

“The Board of Selectmen have been advised that further consideration of {the guardrail and the sidewalk] by DCR would likely result in a delay in the permitting process, which in turn would delay construction of the project until 2012,” Howley said.