Selectmen Discuss Road Maintenance Plan

The Wrentham Board of Selectmen heard a report on the town road maintenance plan at its meeting Tuesday night.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Irving Priest said early work on roads extends their lives for much less money.

"As the years pass, and you're down at the end of the curve, you have to do a complete reconstruction," he said. "That would be the most cost per square yard."

Priest said doing work on a road, which is supposed to last 25 years without maintenance, at the 10-year mark would add another 10 years to the road's lifespan.

Selectman Michael Carroll expressed skepticism that the town could maintain its roads for such little cost.

"If we spend only $400,000 a year, where on the curve are we?" he said. "You're going to run out of money pretty quickly before you maintain the town's 65 miles of road."

He said he was concerned that spending less on maintenance would require a large expenditure down the line.