New Ashford to replace culvert on Ingraham Road after beavers plug drainage

Road Commissioner Keith Lacasse told the New Ashford Select Board on Oct. 21 that beavers had completely plugged the culvert on Ingraham Road and that attempts to clear it had failed. The town received permission from the Department of Environmental Protection to replace the culvert, Lacasse said, and he plans to do the work Saturday using materials already on hand.

Lacasse said he will bring a load of pea stone and expects the road section to be repaved on Monday. Chair Jason Jayko said he will post a temporary road closure notice on the town website. Lacasse also said a steel road plate will be placed over the opening to preserve emergency vehicle access while work is under way.

Lacasse reported that Donovan finished the paving work on Ingraham Road and that he will mow the north end of town and complete leaf blowing this week. He said he will patch Mallery and Beach Hill roads next week, placed cones at a washout on Greylock Road and plans to fill it with heavy stone, and will clean ditches on Beach Hill Road. A resident complained about trees being trimmed along Mallery Road; Lacasse told the resident the trees are on town property and that advance notice would not change ownership of the trees.

Lacasse told the board that Eversource has marked additional problem trees in town, including near the Bouchard property, but that the utility did not provide a schedule for removal. The board did not record any additional formal action on the culvert beyond Lacasse’s report and the planned work schedule.