Wayne committee orders mid‑April culvert survey, moves to ready paving RFPs

The Town of Wayne select board and road committee voted to have a professional survey completed on seven candidate roads—intended to identify culvert replacements, ditching and driveway apron prep—so the town can issue accurate RFPs for paving work this season.

Shannon, who presented the town expense and revenue summary, said the town has limited maintenance funds and highlighted material costs, noting a vendor quote of about $830 per pallet for calcium chloride. Committee members stressed that culvert and ditching work must be defined and funded before awarding paving contracts so contractors can price preparation and driveway aprons properly.

The committee set a timeline at the meeting: complete the culvert/survey work by mid‑April (committee members discussed March 31 as a preferred milestone and agreed April 15 as a practical target), aim to have awards and work executed by mid‑May, and pave once the prep work is complete—paving could be carried out in June or awarded this fiscal year even if physical work occurs in July.

The motion to proceed with a survey of the seven roads was made from the floor, seconded, and approved. The committee directed that findings from the survey be provided to the road commissioner to support an RFP that includes appropriate bid alternates for culverts and driveway aprons.

Members debated sequencing: some favored doing wearing‑course topcoats on roads that only lack a topcoat, while others argued for reclaiming and more extensive reconstruction where needed. Participants noted that driveway culvert replacement costs vary by pipe length and driveway condition; one attendee estimated a typical driveway culvert replacement could run “a couple thousand dollars” excluding pavement cutting.

On procurement specifics the committee discussed payment units: reclamation is typically bid by square yard and hot top by ton. Members emphasized the importance of pre‑bid field measurements and inspection to prevent underpayment or contractors delivering under‑depth material.

The committee also discussed material logistics for gravel roads, including state guidance for calcium‑chloride application (discussed at the meeting as about 1.1–1.5 pounds per square yard) and palletized 50‑lb bag handling. Shannon said the town’s spreadsheet showed roughly 7.5 miles of gravel roads; the group deferred final calcium‑chloride specifications for the RFP until survey figures are confirmed.

Next steps: the committee recommended the road survey be completed as weather allows (target mid‑April), the road commissioner receive survey recommendations, and staff prepare RFP language that includes culvert/driveway bid alternates and inspection provisions. The committee set the next meeting for April 13 to review survey results and finalize RFP scope.