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Council authorizes wetlands-permit application for Hillsdale Road culvert replacement
Summary
The council authorized town staff to submit a RIDEM wetlands application for a culvert replacement on Hillsdale Road and agreed to sign the application so the project can seek construction funding.
The Richmond Town Council authorized submission of a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) wetlands-permit application for the replacement of a culvert on Hillsdale Road and designated the council president to sign the application on the town’s behalf, a necessary step because the town owns the pipe and right-of-way.
Chris Fox, executive director of the Wood–Pawcatuck Watershed Association, told the council his group retained Fuss & O’Neill to develop the design. Fox said the project has used about $200,000 in grant funding to reach the engineering stage and that construction bids are expected to run roughly $800,000 to $1 million when the town seeks construction funding.
Fox said the replacement design restores aquatic connectivity for the Beaver River and will reduce repeated road closures and roadside damage caused by overtopping. He told the council that, if funding is available, construction would be scheduled outside the school year and that any closure would last roughly four to eight weeks, with advance public notice and coordination with emergency responders.
The council’s vote authorizes staff to sign and submit the RIDEM wetland application so the project may proceed; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with no dissent.
The council asked staff and the applicant to coordinate scheduling and public notices if the project moves into construction; the town will not proceed with construction until funding is secured and permits are granted.
