Paving a New Way for a More "Special" Look in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

OLD SAYBROOK - While the roads in this town are not paved with gold, a recently discussed proposal could allow them to be paved with a substance with a different look and texture than what we see today.

"It's part of an active program to keep our roads in shape and soften the roads," First Selectman Michael Pace said.

Bringing in a large bag of tpieces of the chip seal colored stone to the Feb. 21 Board of Selectmen meeting, Pace said the road is similar to what is used in Colonial Williamsburg and hopes the substance will help "make our town more special."

Director of Public Works Larry Bonin said that chip seal is becoming a more attractive option for use on roads when the price of oil and asphalt continues to escalate.

"With this, you get a bigger bang for your buck. It's great for the road in the winter because the ice is lower than the rocks providing more traction for your car. You don't get black ice on a chip seal road," Bonin said.

The road surface will allow town's snow plows with steel blades to more easily plow the snow and both sand and salt can be used without it affecting the chip seal.

Bonin explained that the chip seal is expected to last eight to ten years depending on the volume of traffic using the road, about the same shelf life as asphalt.

At a cost of $1.50 per yard, the chip seal is quite inexpensive compared to the price of asphalt which is currently at $6.50 per yard.

If funds allow, Bonin said he would like to have the chip seal color stone be installed on School House Road, Old Boston Post Road, Lynde Street, Old Post Road, and Pennywise Lane.

"Those roads are still in decent shape, there is some cracking but it would be beneficial for the chip seal," Bonin said.

If the stone is installed on those roads, drivers can expect to drive on a surface made with a water based emollition with stone rolled into it rather than the oil based asphalt which is there today.

Bonin said it will be similar to the chip seal color stone used in Outer Cove.

While the substance at Outer Cove is a trap rock with a grayish/black cover, the substance proposed for the five residential roads would be smooth with a brownish color with a more "country look" to it, Bonin explained.

It is estimated to cost about $108,705 to purchase enough substance to pave the five roads and this cost will be included in the proposed 2008-09 Public Works Department Budget.