Council withdraws $328,550 for emergency drainage work on Natakuk Road

The Town Council approved May 22 the withdrawal and expenditure of $328,550 from the Road Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund to repair a failing drainage pipe and replace structures in the Natakuk Road triangle area. Deputy DPW staff described on‑site inspections that found pronounced corrosion in a 24‑inch pipe near the Natakuk Triangle, where earlier sinkholes had appeared. The department characterized the work as an emergency repair to replace the corroded pipe and two drainage structures in the localized triangle; staff said other sections of the system to the northwest and toward the outfalls are in good condition. "This is just a figure of the area where we're gonna replace the lines and structures," DPW staff said, describing video camera footage and the corroded material. The department explained the funding covers pipe and structure replacement only; the roadway will be patched rather than fully reconstructed because a state‑funded redesign of the triangle is planned in a later transportation program year. Councilors asked whether the patch will hold until the state redesign. Staff said the temporary roadway repair is expected to perform until the state project, which the town has targeted for a future multi‑year transportation plan. The motion to withdraw funds and proceed with repairs passed 6–0. The council instructed DPW to proceed with procurement and to coordinate timing to minimize traffic disruption; no changes to capital project schedules were announced at the meeting.