November 23, 2009

Industrial park entrance project may be delayed

Work on the Middle Street entrance to the city’s new industrial park may not be on time, city officials said.
Though development officials had hoped the $728,000 state project might be done before winter, it’s looking increasingly likely it may not be finished before the April 15 deadline set by the state when it awarded the contract last summer to Brook field-based J. Iapaluccio, Inc.
“It probably won’t be done until mid-May,” Assistant City Engineer Ray Rogozinski told the Bristol Development Authority on Monday.
The project aims to widen the northbound roadway to allow for the addition of a left turn lane into Business Park Drive, which cuts through the new Southeast Bristol Industrial Park.
The spruced-up entry is considered crucial to the industrial park’s success, officials said.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said he’s also taken a look around at the project site and doubts it can be finished on time.
Cockayne said he’s also worried about the sharp drop on the east side of the road where the old curbs have been stripped away but new ones haven’t been installed. He said that winter conditions could easily find drivers slipping off the road.
Rogozinski said the drop is as deep as a foot and a half. He said the contractor plans to put construction barrels alongside the road to try to keep traffic away from the drop.
But, Rogozinski said, when the snow falls and the plows go through, there are likely to be problems. Because it’s a state road, any liability falls on the state, he said, not the city.
Rogozinski said the contractor has said since summer that it would complete the work before winter, but with asphalt plants closing by mid-December, it doesn’t appear possible any longer.
He said he is “very concerned” the work won’t be done on schedule.
The contract includes a $1,200 a day fine for every day the project remains unfinished after April 15, officials said.
Rogozinski said that the contractor is aiming to keep working into December – which is considered winter for construction purposes – but it isn’t clear it will be able to gear up for renewed work before April. That depends on weather, he said.
Mayor Art Ward said he’d like to see the contractor prodded to move faster.
Rogozinski said the city’s engineers are pushing daily, but there’s only so much they can do. The state controls the project, he said, and the contractor knows the terms of the deal it has with the transportation department.
Mickey Goldwasser, a BDA commissioner, said he wants to ensure that nothing happens to shortchange the quality of the work.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another Rosenthal project.

Thanks Mayor Ward.

Anonymous said...

Come to Plymouth and you can see what a completed industrial park looks like - empty.

Anonymous said...

Another screw up by Rosenthal

Anonymous said...

Looking to cut costs?
Start with Rosenthal.

Ward should have listened to Stortz

Anonymous said...

Ward won't listen to anyone but himself, One man army.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps if Rosenthal was spending less time working the camera and more time doing his job we would have a better Industrial park.

Great job Ward, we now have a 100k camera man.

Anonymous said...

Rosenthal is making Ward look real bad. Ward WAKEUP

Anonymous said...

Rosenthal is a JOKE. He does nothing all day and wonders why everyone wants to get rid of him.

Anonymous said...

Just how many cameras does Rosenthal have?

Anonymous said...

HE`S not the only one at city hall doing nothing alot of big dollars going down the tubes.

Anonymous said...

The previous posters are a joke! Why don't you folks get the facts before you post? Rosenthal has nothing to do with the road widening. That is a state project. Did anyone happen to see that it is on a state road? of course not. you folks would rather jump to conclusions than get it right. it's so much easier attacking someone with incorrect facts and much more interesting, I guess. I'm not a fan of Rosenthal's but I refuse to attack someone who has no control over the timing issues that are solely within the purview of the state at this point.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I get home from work and look to see what's going on in my City and once again . . . Rosenthal shows his ineptness at being able to bring anything to a conclusion.

Mayor Ward, when will you acknowledge how much he hurts your creditbility.

Anonymous said...

12:04

Apparently Mayor Ward doesn't want to get rid of him.

Anonymous said...

Ward can listen to himself, ONLY, because only his toadies talk to him.

Anonymous said...

the previous poster is correct. rosenthal has nothing to do with the time it is taking for the STATE to get the work done. it's a state road. rosenthal may not be very good at what he does but he shouldn't be blamed for something that he can't do anything about.

Anonymous said...

5:44 PM, You're correct. The previous posters (probably the same 1 angry litte poster over and over again) don't really care about truth or facts...they're just whiny malcontents with an axe to grind. You should probably just ignore them. That's what most of us do! Happy Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

Poster 5:44 pm: ok, let's say this issue is not Rosenthals fault- this time. Let's talk about why there aren't more business's in that new industrial park of ours. It's been in the making for what almost 10 years? Oh, but he worked so hard to get those 2 business's in there?? After 10 long years don't you think there should be more in there? Does he actually market the park? NO! Is he out knocking down doors to get business's to come to Bristol? NO! I'll tell you what, he's great at talking his way around everything though-worst thing- everyone believes him! ha! The joke's on the people of Bristol. I've never gotten a straight answer from the guy. And what about the money we gave to Main St that was for that restaurant that didn't make it, now it's a consignment shop? Shouldn't that be paid back? I can't believe that guy still has job with the city. Ask him, he'll just tell you that he's getting picked on. BOO-HOO!

Anonymous said...

Poster 5:44 pm

Why doesn't Rosenthal pick up the phone and talk to DOT and get updates instead of waiting to hear from them that they are behind. It's just another case of Rosenthal doesn't follow through.

Embarrssed for you said...

"Ward can listen to himself, ONLY, because only his toadies talk to him."

Huh? And what the heck are "toadies?"...Sounds like maybe you should stop listening to the "toadies" in your head and up the meds...

Anonymous said...

In city hall theres a lot of waste. Start at the bottom floor and work up to the third. A lot of people making big money doing nothing.

Anonymous said...

1:58

Toady A truckler to the rich or powerful.

To fawn upon with sycophancy.

Have someone explain truckler to you, or look it up yourself (if you can).

Anonymous said...

8:22, Not a problem. I understand the word. It's your comment that's questionable.

Anonymous said...

7:50

Maybe in your mind, but I know mant others are thinking as I am.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone name ONE project that Rosenthal has been involved with that was completed, on time, within budget and without a hassle?

Are you listening Mr. Mayor?

Anonymous said...

10:33 AM, but many, many more aren't...as the voters have proven.

Anonymous said...

6:05

Only because the Republicans did not do a good job in challenging him!

diaper change? said...

8:58 - and your point is? if you aren't happy, it is because you sat on your lazy ass and didn't get out the alford/lawton vote - what part of that mystifys you?
wonder if you even voted or know how to vote?

Anonymous said...

9:42

And what did YOU do?????????????

no rest for the weary said...

it is so amazing to know that "stupidity" doesn't take off on a holiday.

Anonymous said...

The whole park thing is a waste at this time. Manufacturing is taking a beating right now and no one is really expanding.So what do we do.

First we should be riding the state to get the road done with this constant dragging of feet only hurts us not helps us,I mean with that part of the road not done makes the city of Bristol look like it can't get anything done.

Mr.Rosenthal should be knocking on every door and following every lead instead of talking about all he has done, actions speak louder than words.We must be more proactive in searching out new buisnesses in Bristol and if Mr. Rosenthal can't or won't or does not know how then get some one who will do the job.

Mayor Ward should be very involved in this to the point that he too should be looking for new buisnesses and if need be going to these buisnesses, not sitting back and letting just one person do it all,also he should also be on top of the state letting them know they need to do mroe to move this project along.He is the head of our city and should show more concern about were this city is going and how it gets there.

We all feel that here is a lack of leadership at the top even after the election. We had that chance to change that and we did not so now we must put alot of pressure on city hall or else suffer the results of our doing nothing.

Anonymous said...

9:42

I was out in front of the polls all day.
How about you?

fire plug, u are not said...

9:08 - so was the fire hydrant and it didn't do anything either.

Anonymous said...

7:52 PM, Please don't attempt to speak for "we all." The majority of voters obviously weren't looking for "change" and are satisfied with the job that city hall has done, especially during the recession. "We all" have spoken.

Anonymous said...

11:29

It appears that you are the fire hydrant!

Anonymous said...

to u? said what: showing us your true intelligence ... as usual. Never have a valid point to anything so all you can say is "suck it up." That's brilliant ... for a middle schooler!

Anonymous said...

This delay should not be ANY REASON that Jonathan can use for not having done ANYTHING in getting the park developed and should not be a reason for Ward not to do anyting about Jonathan.