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Vermont Agency of Transportation This weekly report is a list of planned construction activities that will have traffic impacts on state highways throughout Vermont for the week of August 22. Please remember to drive safely in all work zones. Lives depend on it.

Interstates

I-89 Richmond A culvert repair project is underway. Motorists will encounter a one-mile-long lane closure in both travel directions just south of Exit 11 as southbound traffic is merged to the northbound lane using a crossover. Please pay attention to signage in the area and merge early.

I-89 SharonAbridge rehabilitation project continues. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction as crossovers are being utilized. Motorists be aware of a work zone speed reduction.

I-91 Bradford A single lane closure has been established in the southbound lanes near Exit 16 for ongoing bridge maintenance. Northbound motorists should continue to exercise caution as the contractor works to restore northbound travel to two lanes. A speed limit reduction to 55 mph remains in effect.

I-91 Fairlee St. Johnsbury Multiple work zones are in place for preventative maintenance repairs to bridges along I-91. Single lane closures have been established in both directions speed limit and lane-width reductions remain in effect.

I-91 Lyndon Barton Travelers can expect daily lane closures in the vicinity of active construction Monday Saturday between Exits 23 25 during daytime construction hours (6 a.m. 6 p.m.). Motorists will encounter uneven lanes, grooved pavement, and lane closures in active construction zones. Speed is reduced to 55 mph in the work zone.

I-91 Rockingham A ledge stabilization project continues. Motorists will encounter lane and speed reductions as southbound traffic is merged to the northbound barrel using a crossover.

I-91 Ryegate St. Johnsbury A northbound resurfacing project is underway. There will be a single lane closure between Exits 17 and 20, with minimal traffic delays as crews install plug joints on bridges.

I-91 WeathersfieldA bridge deck replacement project continues at Exit 8. Lane and speed reductions are in effect in each direction as southbound traffic is merged to the northbound bridge using a crossover. A two-way lane shift on VT 131 will consist of two 10-foot lanes. This lane shift will be in place until October.

I-91 Westminster A bridge deck replacement project over VT 121 is underway. I-91 northbound and southbound have been reduced to one lane of travel across the bridges, and an alternating one-way traffic pattern is in effect on VT 121 underneath the bridges. A speed reduction to 55 mph is in place within the project area. Fines are doubled for speeding within the construction zone.

Around the State

Alburgh Milling operations are set to begin along U.S. 2. Traffic control will be present, and motorists should expect some minor delays.

Andover A 74-day bridge closure begins on Monday, 08/22 as crews replace Bridge #9 over Trout Brook on Weston-Andover Rd. in Andover. A town-signed 6.4-mile detour route will be in place for motorists. The detour will run from Weston-Andover Rd. to Middletown Rd., then VT 11 to Hilltop Rd., and back to Weston-Andover Rd.

Braintree VT 12 is back open to traffic following a bridge closure. One-way alternating traffic patterns with flaggers will be implemented as needed through the construction site.

Brownington A slope stabilization and roadway reconstruction project is underway at multiple locations along Center Rd. in Brownington. Center Rd. is closed to through traffic through the fall. Traffic will be rerouted along VT 58, Hunt Hill Rd., and Schoolhouse Rd.

Burlington A paving project is underway along U.S. 2/Main Street from South Willard St. to I-89, and along North Willard St. to the intersection with Riverside Ave. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Motorists should expect one-way alternating traffic during nighttime operations.

Burlington, Shelburne Street Roundabout Early next week, U.S. 7/Shelburne St. will be restricted to one-way southbound between South Willard St. and Marian St.South Willard St. will be restricted to one-way northbound between Shelburne St. and Chittenden Dr., and access to Locust St. via Shelburne St. will be closed.

These traffic patterns will remain in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for several weeks. Motorists are encouraged to follow the signed detour route to avoid delays. Through-trucks are required to follow the signed detour route.

Calais Multiple bridge replacement projects are underway along VT 14. Two-way traffic is back open at the first bridge location approx. 7.6 miles north of U.S. 2, while work continues on the second bridge a few more miles north. Motorists should expect speed reductions and alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers during the day and a temporary signal at the second bridge location during non-work hours.

Charlotte South Burlington A roadway resurfacing project is underway along U.S. 7. Nighttime work hours are 7 p.m. 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Motorists should expect one-way alternating traffic during nighttime operations. Moderate delays are possible.

Chelsea Thetford A resurfacing project continues on VT 113. There will be a single-lane closure with alternating one-way traffic as crews continue paving the wearing course Vershire towards Thetford.

Chester A bridge deck replacement project is underway on VT 103 just south of Smokeshire Rd. Speed and lane width reductions are in effect throughout the project area. VT 103 Bridge #16 is closed through October 2022. Traffic is being maintained on a temporary bridge.

Chester Springfield A roadway project nears completion on VT 11 between VT 103 in Chester and VT 106 in Springfield. Expect one-way alternating traffic in the vicinity of construction operations. Minor delays anticipated.

Fair Haven Orwell Motorists should expect alternating one-way traffic along VT 22A as crews finish line striping and continue placing shoulder gravel and paving driveway aprons.

Hardwick A paving project continues on VT 14 and VT 15. Motorists should expect lane closures with alternating one-way traffic along both roadways between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Johnson Morristown Motorists should expect alternating one-way traffic along VT 15 and VT 15A as crews pave sideroads and driveway aprons. Crews will also begin placing shoulder gravel on both routes.

Montpelier Motorists should expect flagged one-way alternating traffic and lane shifts at the rail crossing location along U.S. 2 between Gallison Hill Rd. and the traffic circle. Also expect nightwork from the evening of 08/22 into the morning of 08/23 for track alignment work.

Montpelier Berlin A bridge deck replacement project continues along U.S. 2 over the Winooski River at the Montpelier Berlin town line. Traffic is now directed over a temporary bridge. Motorists may encounter periods of one-way alternating traffic as crews work on approaches to the new bridge.

Montgomery A set of bridge deck replacements continues along VT 118. Motorists will encounter one-way alternating traffic controlled by flaggers during the day and temporary traffic signals during off-hours between West Hill Rd. and Bank St.

Moretown Middlesex A resurfacing project continues along U.S. 2. Motorists can expect one-way alternating traffic in the area as crews work on guardrail, berm removal, and ditching and continue paving operations.

Newfane The Depot Rd. Arch Bridge over Rock River is closed through Fall 2022. Traffic will be rerouted from the north via Grimes Hill Rd. and from the south via VT 30. Through traffic is not permitted. Grimes Hill Rd. and Dover Rd. (at the intersection with Depot Rd.) are reduced to one lane with signals for the duration of the closure.

North Hero Grand IsleDrawbridge construction continues along U.S. 2. A speed reduction remains in place. Mariners: The seasonal operating schedule for the drawbridge is in effect.

Pittsford Brandon Paving work continues on U.S. 7 with one-way alternating traffic patterns in effect. Multiple work zones will be established as needed. A rolling closure may be implemented toward the end of the week for shoulder material placement operations. Expect delays.

Richford A bridge replacement project is underway along VT 105 approx. one mile south of the intersection of Main St. and River St. Motorists should see little impact to traffic.

A separate culvert replacement project is also underway on VT 105 approx. one mile south of Nickson Rd. Motorists will continue to use a traffic patten shift with signals directing alternating one-lane traffic through a temporary bypass. A speed reduction to 35 mph is in effect.

Richmond Bolton A resurfacing project continues along U.S. 2. Crews will work on roadway excavation and paving on the east end of the project during the day, with drainage and slope work on the west end of the project, Monday Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists will encounter areas of one-way alternating traffic in most construction zones.

Ripton A streambank stabilization project continues on VT 125. Lane closures regulated by temporary traffic signals are in operation at one location within the project area. Please expect delays. Lane restrictions of 10-feet wide within closure areas.

South Hero An intersection improvement project is underway at U.S. 2 and VT 314. Motorists should expect intermittent lane closures with alternating one-way traffic at the intersection of VT 314 and U.S. 2 between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Stockbridge Rochester A resurfacing project continues along VT 100 starting near its intersection with VT 107. Motorists should expect areas of one-way alternating traffic and some delays as crews begin milling operations on 08/24 starting on the south end of the project progressing north.

WillistonIntersection Projects Laneshifts are in effect near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Industrial Ave. for an intersection improvement project. Industrial Ave. will be closed to through traffic from 7 p.m. 6 a.m., Tuesday Friday. Motorists will follow a signed detour utilizing U.S. 2 and VT 2A.

Travelers can also expect a lane closure in the northbound right lane on VT 2A from Hurricane Lane to Taft Corners between 9 a.m. 3 p.m., Monday through Friday for a separate intersection project. Please expect delays.

Williston Park and Ride Construction of a new park and ride facility is underway along VT 2A near the I-89 Exit 12 interchange. Alternating traffic on VT 2A is possible throughout the week between 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Minimal delays expected.

Wilmington Brattleboro A resurfacing project continues on VT 9. Motorists can expect alternating one-way traffic as crews pave the base course in Marlboro to Wilmington, continue guardrail work in Brattleboro towards Marlboro, and conduct shoulder and culvert clean-up activities.

Winooski A roadway project continues along VT 15 (East Allen St.). Motorists will encounter one-way alternating traffic during nighttime operations, 7 p.m. 6 a.m., Sunday Thursday. Please expect delays.

Woodford A ledge stabilization project is underway on VT 9. Intermittent traffic holds are anticipated throughout the week, including Saturdays. A 15-minute hold is planned for Tuesday, 08/23 between 10 a.m. 2 p.m. for blasting operations. Longer delays may occur. Eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane; a lane shift for westbound traffic will be in place through November. Motorists are urged to lower speeds when coming down the hill into the project area. A speed reduction to 40 mph is in place.

Vermont Agency of Transportationvtrans.vermont.gov

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AOT Road Construction Report Week of August 22 - Vermont Biz

Paving a driveway, sidewalk, or patio can be a hassle. You have to figure out how much area you have, what type of material you want for your project, and then find the right contractor to do the job. Luckily, paver contractors are easy to find and hire, because there are so many paving contractors available on sites like LinkedIn and Houzz. Even if youre not looking for an immediate contractor for your next project, you might want to start looking into regular maintenance for your current driveway or walkway.

Paving contractors often sell their services to homeowners and businesses because of the steady stream of new pavement projects coming in every day. With that in mind, heres everything you need to know about finding a new Paving contractor near me.

What to look for in a paving contractor

Hopefully, you identified a paving contractor youd like to contract with, now its time to see what you can expect from the contractor youve selected. One of the easiest ways to ensure youre hiring a good contractor is to check their online reviews. This is especially important if youll be hiring a paving company for the first time. If a contractor has a lot of negative reviews, it can be a red flag.

However, if a contractor has a lot of good reviews, it doesnt mean theyre automatically a good contractor, you should still investigate the contractor thoroughly before hiring them.

Check online reviews

Heres a quick tip for you to use when youre looking for a new paving contractor. Go to Google and type in the name of your paving contractor, this will bring up any relevant reviews from past and potential future customers. While your search results will show you many positive reviews, they can also show you many negative reviews, too. Youll want to read both sides of these reviews and use them as a guide for what you should look for in your new contractor.

Ask at a local home improvement store

Another easy way to find a new paving contractor is to ask an employee at your local home improvement store. Home improvement stores often have end-users and contractors come in every day. When someone needs paving work done, theyre sure to mention that to the staff. So, you should be able to find someone who knows a few paving contractors. You can then ask the person if they can recommend a contractor.

If you dont know anyone who works at the home improvement store, you can also ask a salesperson for help. When you do this, tell the salesperson that youre looking for a paving contractor, and ask them if they know any paving contractors in your area who are looking for new jobs. You could even tell them that youre looking for someone who does driveway and patio repairs.

Hire based on price quotes

Finding a new paving contractor might be simple if you make your decision on quotations. You want to choose a contractor who can complete the job for the amount theyve offered you. Even though the lowest bidder may not be the best choice, you should consider hiring the contractor with the most impressive credentials.

If youre going to engage a contractor based on their bid, you should work around his availability. You need to watch out for contractors that arent as dependable as youd like them to be or who consistently show up late to work.

Verify their work by contacting their former clients.

A select few paver companies could be ready to provide you with contact information for satisfied clients. If you need to check up on a contractor you havent worked with before, this is a wonderful way to do it. Nonetheless, you shouldnt simply accept the referrals at face value, inquire further as to how the contractors references knew him or her. To what extent were the contractors promises fulfilled?

Verify their work by contacting their former clients.

When looking for a paving contractor, you may also ask for references from their prior clients. This is especially helpful when making your first contractor hire or when making a hire purely on price. Make sure to request client references if you intend to hire someone solely on a price quote. This can help you determine whether or not the contractor is qualified for the work and what kind of results you may anticipate.

Make sure you acquire information on any guarantees or coverage you may need.

Its important to consider the contractors warranty and insurance coverage before employing them for your paving project. Make sure your contractor contract includes these items, you need to check that the tasks youre assigned are reflected in your contract and that youre being paid fairly. Its also important that they have insurance to cover the risks posed to your property, their employees, and the items they bring to the job.

Ultimately, you should pick a contractor who is both familiar with paving jobs and willing to travel to your location. As an added precaution, check that the contractor you hire carries the appropriate licenses and insurance. A good sign of a reliable contractor is if they provide guarantees for the services they do. In case the contractor messed up or something else went wrong, this can be useful. If something goes wrong on the job, you want to know that the contractor will stand behind their work and make amends without charging you more. That way, you wont come to regret working with the service provider.

Conclusion

Having read this, you should be better prepared to seek out a paving contractor. The first step is to conduct a search for local paving contractors on Google. Once youve located a potential partner, you can get in touch with them via phone or email to arrange a meeting. Keep in mind that many contractors today promote their offerings on social media and other online platforms. There are better areas to look for a contractor. Your ultimate goal should be to find a contractor who is dependable, knowledgeable, and capable of meeting your deadline without sacrificing quality. A paving contractor will have these qualities and more.

DISCLAIMER:

We may receive commissions and other revenues from this article. We are a paid partner of organizations mentioned in this article.

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Laying a New Pavement: How to Find the Best Paving contractor near me - My MMA News.com

Following reports of an alleged driveway paving scam, Maplewood police have released photos obtained from residents home security videos in an effort to identify persons of interest.

Maplewood detectives are currently trying to identify the attached persons of interest in our investigation. This is an ongoing continuing investigation, wrote Detective Lt. Michael Palmerezzi in an email to media.

See the photos below.

Residents of Yale Street in Maplewood reported the alleged driveway sealing scam in early August after workers solicited work door to door on Thursday, July 28, then changed the terms of the job and increased the price. After taking cash payments, the workers then left the job unfinished and have not returned to complete the agreed-upon work.

One neighbor reached out to them on Monday, 8/1, to confirm they would be returning to complete the work as they stated they would, one Yale Street neighbor told Village Green. They stated they may not be able to show as they were experiencing technical difficulties. Said neighbor then learned through word of mouth that they were working on another block in SOMA. The neighbor then went to the location to discuss the situation. From my perspective, no technical difficulties were occurring and the workers were simply working the next block to get new business, when they hadnt completed the work at Yale St.

Neighbors told Village Green that the workers spoke with Irish accents. Another contractor was knocking on doors and offering to seal driveways on Plymouth Avenue in August, also with an Irish accent; when his business card was shown to police, Chief DeVaul said that the business (Titan Paving and Masonry Corp.) was not registered with the town.

DeVaul has warned residents against hiring unsolicited workers and said that residents can avoid scams by checking with police to make sure that the vendor is registered with the township, as is required by vendors.

Residents are warned to be extremely cautious when selecting a contractor to do work on their home, said DeVaul. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Maplewood has a Township Ordinance that requires anyone who solicits door to door to have a permit and register with the Town. Residents who are randomly solicited by persons asking to do work should NOT accept or further engage the individuals. I am asking residents to call the Police immediately at 973-762-1234 if something like this occurs. Let us determine if they are legitimate so that you do not become a victim.

Read DeVauls tips on avoiding contractor scams here.

Anyone with information regarding the persons of interest should reach out to Det. Lt. Palmerezzi at 973-761-7913 or mpalmerezzi@maplewoodnj.gov.

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Maplewood Police Seek Persons of Interest in Alleged Driveway Sealing Scam - The Village Green

Paving the Way

Josh Berthiaume says most of his work is commercial, but he does residential jobs, too.

Josh Berthiaume says hes been in the paving business for over two decades and has never seen an economic landscape like the current one, but hes managed to make things work despite the state of the world.

I dont think its about the business or where the business is located or outside circumstances. Theres always going to be something: increased prices, shortages, supply-chain issues, political stuff, he said. It really depends on the owner of the company for how the company is going to do.

As the owner of Property Masters Pavement Maintenance in Ware, Berthiaume specializes in seal coating, crack sealing, and line striping, as well as filling in small patches, across the Greater Springfield area.

When the pandemic hit, Berthiaume told BusinessWest, he was concerned about how his small business would be affected. Despite doing all the work outside, he was still worried about the interactions he had to make with customers.

They wanted to work on their house and work on their properties. My business did really well.

Were a face-to-face business. We had to meet the homeowner and hand them their estimates. I didnt know if Id be able to just take photos or a snapshot of the estimates and send them virtually or what, he said. But I realized, as we kept going, it really didnt impact us in a negative way. We work outside, and were not in close quarters with anyone. It was only when we met the customers that it got awkward here and there, especially when dealing with older customers.

For the most part, sales never stopped in fact, his business increased after the start of federal stimulus checks. Because people were staying home and receiving money, but couldnt go anywhere, homeowners were willing to spend more to improve their quality of living.

They wanted to work on their house and work on their properties. My business did really well, he recalled. If Im going to be honest, we were on track for the year, if not making a little more because of the extra stimulus checks people were getting.

Josh and Sam Berthiaume of Property Masters Pavement Maintenance

Even today, with the economy in flux and inflation high, Berthiaume is cautiously optimistic about the pace of business.

While homeowners started to reach out to Property Masters during for their home-improvement needs this time, the material costs have since skyrocketed, and so has the cost of paving a driveway.

There are jobs that we went to talk to homeowners who were bid at $10,000 last year, and now its double the price, if not more, he said. They call me to seal coat or crack seal to glue everything together it buys the customer a few more years before they have to make the big investment that theyre not ready for because of the price increases.

He went on to tell BusinessWest that seal coating is usually a tenth of the cost of paving, so homeowners are able to put off redoing the entire driveway while prices remain high.

The main issue hes having right now is figuring out how to retain loyal customers at todays higher costs. He explained that he has done jobs for customers multiple times over the past decade because he keeps his prices lower than many companies. And because theyre returners, he tries to honor the prices he originally gave them. But that is starting to hurt his profits.

For instance, to make the same profit off a driveway that cost $300 last time, he might have to charge $800 today. When someones never done this before, they just see the difference in my prices versus paving companies. Im a hell of a lot cheaper. So theyre not barking at the price. When I have to raise a repeat customers price over 100% because of economic reasons, thats difficult. Some people bark at it, but others understand that gas has tripled the price.

Even though there is no predicting the future, Berthiaume is confident in his ability to keep growing, though inflation remains a thorny problem. He told BusinessWest that, over the 25 years hes been in the industry, hes never seen prices rise this much.

Its going to be hard for everyone because the problems are just going to be passed on to the next guy, he said. Were seeing material shortages and trucking shortages. Were just hoping for the best. Its a seasonable business, so hopefully over the winter, things straighten out, and our distributors figure out how to deal with the problems were facing this year.

In short, while the economy still shows some cracks in the near term, Property Masters Paving Maintenance is ready for the challenge.

Kailey Houle can be reached at [emailprotected]

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Josh Berthiaume Helps Homeowners Seal Their Improvements - Business West

PHILIPSBURG The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced a new start date for overnight work on its safety enhancement project on Route 322 near Philipsburg.

The project enhances safety by adding a center turning lane between the intersections of Decatur Hill/Graham Station Road and Route 53.

The contractor plans to completeovernightmilling and initial paving operations between Pleasant Hill Road and the Railroad/Centre Street intersection from Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25.

Crews will work6 p.m. through 6 a.m.daily during this period. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during overnight milling and paving operations.

PennDOT initially announced this work for Sunday, Aug. 21, through Wednesday, Aug. 24.

The contractor began milling the existing roadway surface between Graham Station Road and the Intersection of Route 2024 (Pleasant Hill Road) on Thursday.

The contractor still intends to keep two lanes open as often as possible but advises drivers to anticipate periods where traffic is reduced to a single lane with flaggers in the roadway providing traffic control. Drivers should build extra time into their travel schedules to compensate for these periods of intermittent flagging.

Once milling and paving operations have concluded, the contractor will complete pavement markings, signing, driveway and side road adjustments, tie-ins, topsoil and seeding throughout the work zone.

Overall work on the project includes adding an approximately one-mile center turning lane between Decatur Hill/Graham Station Road and Route 53, associated widening, traffic signal upgrades, paving and drainage improvements.

It also includes replacing the bridge that spans Laurel Run and constructing a box culvert. The addition of the turning lane will enhance safety for motorists by reducing traffic congestion.

PennDOT anticipates overall project completion in late October. All work is weather and schedule dependent.

Clearwater Construction Inc. of Mercer, Pa., is the contractor for this $8.1 million job.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visitingwww.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA Web site.

Subscribe to PennDOT news in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin and Potter counties atwww.penndot.gov/District2.

Follow PennDOT onTwitterand like the department onFacebookandInstagram.

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Overnight Work on Route 322 Project Near Philipsburg Rescheduled - GANT News

Mitigation measures for North Central San Mateo residents affected by the removal of 200 parking spots to add bike lanes are ongoing, with overnight parking programs and red curbs for driveways seeing significant neighborhood interest amid further city action.

The city in July started its pilot King Center Overnight Parking program to help reduce parking congestion. The city issued 17 of 30 free permits in July to residents to provide parking in an off-street lot between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., with permits available monthly on a first-come, first-served basis. City staff said some cars have remained in the lot beyond the time limit, but police warnings have led to compliance. The city is also close to completing the evaluation and installation of 12 on-street accessible parking spots for eligible neighborhood residents with a current ADA placard or hangtag. It has also completed the painting of close to 108 red curbs for driveways in the neighborhood at no cost. A driveway entrance program allowing some residents to park parallel on the street in front of their driveways has seen little interest.

Staff also conducted a neighborhood survey about offering residential parking permits lasting from June to July 8. The survey was available online, and a mailed copy was sent to 3,000 households in the neighborhood. The city received 588 survey responses and is analyzing the data. Staff intends to return to the City Council in the fall with survey findings and permit program options for consideration. Public Works Director Azalea Mitch said the city is developing better ways to assess and make clear the public impacts of projects early in the planning process in light of the resident resistance to the Bike Lanes Project. Sustainability and Infrastructure Commissioner Adam Loraine was looking forward to the survey results to get a better understanding to improve parking issues for North Central residents.

Im hoping that these options are helping North Central residents and this project is working better for them, Loraine said.

The North Central Bike Lanes Project removed 200 spaces to bring in a bicycle boulevard and bicycle lanes on Humboldt Street and bicycle lanes on Poplar and Indian avenues to connect to the recently completed North San Mateo Drive project. It received significant resistance from neighborhood residents because of the parking loss in an already crowded neighborhood, with the city agreeing to significant parking mitigation measures to offset the loss. The high-priority project identified in the citys bicycle master plan is vital to improving connectivity to the east side of San Mateo through a west-east connection. The project would also reduce the citys carbon footprint, improve safety and likely reduce the risk and frequency of future collisions by removing bicyclists from shared lanes. From 2017 to 2021, there were 11 bicycle-involved collisions on the project corridor and 30 in the neighborhood.

The citys ongoing paving projects will also add bicycle infrastructure in early 2023, like a bicycle boulevard on Sunnybrae Boulevard from South Delaware Street to South Amphlett Boulevard, a class two bike lane on South Humboldt Street from Fifth to Ninth avenues, and a bicycle boulevard on Fifth Avenue. The citys ongoing paving projects will also add bicycle infrastructure in early 2023, like a bicycle boulevard on Sunnybrae Boulevard from South Delaware Street to South Amphlett Boulevard, a class two bike lane on South Humboldt Street from Fifth to Ninth avenues, and a bicycle boulevard on Fifth Avenue from South Delaware Street to South Amphlett Boulevard, according to a staff report. The city has also been awarded funding for design and environmental review for a bike lane on 28th Avenue from Edison Street to El Camino Real to connect the existing bicycle boulevard, along with bike lanes and boulevard along Delaware Street south of Bermuda Drive for school kids.

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Parking improvements offered to North Central | Local News | smdailyjournal.com - San Mateo Daily Journal

SHELTON The citys apartment stock is receiving another boost.

Blakemans plans call for construction of a building with 30 apartments and onsite parking on the site of the former Hunan Pan restaurant.

The apartment building will match Brookview Apartments, the structure developed by Blakeman and already in place at 305 Old Bridgeport Ave. It would replace the two-story structure and paving presently on the site.

Blakeman called his latest plans Phase Two, and the new building, as presently proposed, would be a carbon copy of the existing one, which was finished two years ago.

Currently, the site is accessed from Sunwood Drive off Old Bridgeport Avenue. The plans state that a new driveway entrance into the proposed off-street parking area will be created to be accessed from Sunwood Drive.

This was not lost on Commissioner Ruth Parkins, who said she was not opposed to Blakemans proposal, but ultimately voted against the plan.

I do not want to be a situation where we are picking winners and losers, Parkins said. These are all PDDs (Planned Development District). We can say no. We dont have to say yes.

Parkins said her concerns come from a housing market that again appears in flux. She said these latest changes in the market could lead to apartments being less attractive, leaving the city with an overabundance of such units.

At this point, there are three high-density proposals in the zoning department pipeline a 43-unit proposal on Old Bridgeport Avenue, a 152-apartment plan at 435 River Road, and 94 apartments on Todd Road. These, along with Blakemans recent plan, were submitted prior to the establishment of the moratorium.

Zoning consultant Tony Panico said such development proposals can take three to six months before final decisions are made, and these projects were all in the pipeline before the moratorium was even discussed.

We can deny without prejudice, and let things settle down until the end of the moratorium, Parkins said. We can let them come back and waive all fees.

Commission Chair Virginia Harger said a special commission subcommittee with commissioners Elaine Matto, Charlie Kelly and Parkins as members has been established but has not yet begun meeting.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com

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Shelton approves 30 apartments on Old Bridgeport Ave. - CTPost

Droplets of spilled oil are almost impossible to spot on gravel driveways but they are hard to ignore on bricks, paving stones, and concrete. These pesky stains can occur for several reasons, though it is most likely to be residue from the gas, brake fluid, antifreeze, or transmission in your car. While an increasing number of oil stains is almost certainly bad news for your vehicle, getting rid of them from your driveway is a lot easier to deal with.

Before making a start on cleaning your driveway, it is advisable to always seek professional advice for your vehicle if you are concerned about a build-up of oil spills on your property.

Not only will this ensure that your car is safe to drive, but also prevent all your hard work from going to waste once you have managed to clean away nuisance stains.

Common household products are your best bet for removing oil stains, and theres a wide range of effective ingredients to choose from.

READ MORE:Golden rule for removing toilet limescale with just 2 ingredients

Cat litter, baking soda, laundry detergent, and even washing up liquid are all excellent tools for tackling oily residue, but the best results will come from using a mixture of both dry and wet ingredients.

For fresh stains, start by soaking up the oily liquid using baking soda or cat litter.

To do this, sprinkle a generous amount of your chosen dry ingredient over the spillage until it is covered.

Leave the substance to absorb the oil for a few minutes before brushing it away and rinsing it with some clean water.

Dont be afraid to clean stains vigorously, especially on concrete and asphalt which can easily withstand the intensity of a hard-bristled brush.

The more elbow grease you put into it, the better the results will be.

If you want to use a powder laundry detergent, mix it into a paste with some water and scrub it onto your driveway.

Continue to apply the paste and rinse it away as soon as it becomes dirty from surface residue on the driveway.

A nylon brush is best for the paste method, though you should use the same vigorous motion to really lift the oily stain.

Read more here:
How to remove oil stains from a driveway - 4 budget hacks to instantly dissolve grease - Express

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. As someone who has lived downtown for 20 years, Andrea Battison is familiar with the noise and litter in Charlottetown.

The COVID-19 pandemic gave the neighbourhood a break from tourism and foot traffic, but things have sped back up this year now that most public health restrictions have been dropped.

Now, theres more than just some trash and loud talking.

Its screaming and yelling at 2 a.m. when the bars close. Its people urinating on Battisons driveway and porch.

Recently, Battisons husband caught a man literally with his pants down using their driveway as a toilet.

For Battison, this issue isnt complicated. The city has been encouraging business growth and the foot traffic that comes with it, without also providing services like garbage cans and public washrooms, she said in an Aug. 18 SaltWire interview.

How do you support the people you bring in?

Battison pointed to downtown beautification initiatives that serve tourism, like the lights being installed overheadon downtown streets while leaving behind residents in the area.

You can buy more light stands, and you can do all this paving, but you cant buy garbage cans. You come downtown and look for a garbage can, a public waste receptacle, theres none, she said.

While Battison attributes much of the problem to increased businesses and customers, she also noted there aren't enough garbage cans in general, even without tourism traffic.

I get it, that the city wants to increase business traffic, and I see theres a plus to that for some people, but not everybody, she said.

SaltWire has been reporting on the housing crisis in Charlottetown and P.E.I. and has recently published stories on people living in tents, including in the downtown area.

Battison, however, doesnt think the issues she is seeing are related to homelessness. It seems to be the typical post-bar rowdiness and messiness that comes in part from having nowhere to place garbage, such as pizza boxes, she said.

Along with more garbage cans and possibly public washrooms, Battison suggested more security could help.

She doesnt think this needs to be police, though. Just some kind of official security presence to act as a deterrent, she said.

Tessa Rogers, a street outreach worker with PEERS Alliance, believes the increased garbage around Charlottetown is connected to the housing crisis and the rise of people sleeping rough.

In her work, Rogers has been to encampments in the woods and met numerous Islanders sleeping in tents.

What she hasnt seen are basic civic services, like garbage cans, public washrooms or even places to fill water, she said in an Aug. 17 SaltWire interview.

People are trying to source out areas where theyre not going to be bothered by the police or bothered by the general community, so theyre going in more private areas that dont have resources surrounding them.

While Rogers agrees with the need for more garbage services, she doesnt think more police will help the situation.

Theyre definitely issues, like we dont want to have litter all over town. But thats as simple as talking to people and saying, OK, this is the area youre camping. Were going to bring in a big garbage can for you folks to use, and were going to come this day every week or every couple days to empty it.

Instead of security, Rogers called for providing the services people have been asking for.

When Battison first contacted SaltWire, she included an email chain that also involved several city councillors and Brad MacConnell, the chief of Charlottetown Police Services.

Mitch Tweel, councillor for Ward 4, replied to the email, adding the citys CAO and public works manager to the chain, and saying he was sorry the issue was happening in the citys historic district.

Alanna Jankov, councillor for ward one much of the downtown area also responded to Battison's initial letter outlining the issue, acknowledging it is a problem and noting CPS is working on a plan for more security.

This will likely be private security, rather than police, Jankov said in a follow-up email to SaltWire.

SaltWire emailed and called MacConnell to ask about the complaints and whether more security will be coming and what it might look like, but MacConnell directed SaltWire to speak with Todd Sutcliffe, CPSs bylaw officer.

Sutcliffe did not respond by deadline to an Aug. 18 interview request.

On Aug. 18, SaltWire also called Scott Adams, manager of Charlottetown Public Works, to ask about plans for more garbage services downtown.

Adams hadnt personally heard complaints about the issue and didnt know of any city plan for more garbage services, but would check with his assistant manager, he said.

SaltWire did not receive any further response by deadline.

Logan MacLean is a diversity reporter with the SaltWire Network in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached by email at [emailprotected] and followed on Twitter @loganmaclean94.

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Tourism, housing crisis contributing to increased trash in downtown Charlottetown - Saltwire

Hive launches SmartCharge Saver tariff add-on- to help customers charge electric cars at the cheapest, and greenest time of the day saving up to 2.10 for a full charge for a 30 kWh battery

August 2022, London: New data from smart home experts, Hive, reveals 54% of people are planning to make the switch to an electric car in the next 5 years and whilst 58% would consider a home charger, there is still widespread confusion and concern about the cheapest and most efficient ways to charge them. With the production of petrol cars banned from 2030, its essential drivers understand all aspects of electric car charging to encourage the transition.

One of the major misconceptions is that over a quarter (27%) of people think home charging would be more expensive than public charging. With the cost-of-living crisis forcing most to tighten their belts more than ever, this incorrect assumption could be stopping people from making the swich, which may actually save them money in the long run. With the public charging network largely deemed inadequate due to a lack of charging points, its also less convenient and more expensive than home charging, costing up to 10 per charge at a public rapid charger*, which is much more than the at home cost.

When asked how much they thought it would cost to fully charge an average electric estate car with a home charger, respondents estimated around 21**. In reality, the average cost is 7.50***, a stark contrast to current fuel costs, that average out at 1.86 per litre.**** Amidst rising living and fuel costs, over half (57%) are also concerned about the impact home charging would have on energy bills.

Most people (71%) are unaware that a home charger can be linked to their energy provider, showing the need for clear information in this area. To support customers, Hive SmartCharge Saver, a brand-new tariff add-on supplied by British Gas and powered by Hive is being trialled by 100 customers this week. Its an add-on that works with Hive EV charging and any British Gas tariff, using intelligent scheduling to charge a customers EV at the cheapest, and greenest time of the day. All the customer needs to do is tell Hive, via the app, when they need their car to be charged by and Hive will do the rest.

Customers will get a discount of 2p per kWH whenever their EV is plugged in continuously for 6 hours and 7p per kWh if the car is plugged in for longer, equating to a max saving of 2.10 per full charge for 30 kWH battery and up to 4.20 saving for a 60kWh battery.

Sustainability is also a big factor with almost a quarter (23%) of people concerned about the environmental impact of using a home charger. The new Hive tariff add-on takes care of this by effortlessly charging the car at the greenest time of day.

Although there is a clear demand for home chargers, theres a lack of understanding around the installation process. Over three quarters (76%) are in the dark about what makes a home eligible for a home charger and 36% are worried they would need to make significant changes in order to have one installed, when they just need to own their own property and have a driveway. Hive guides customers through the EV charger process, from start to finish with an installation from an expert British Gas engineer and 24/7 support available on demand. The Hive EV Charger can be controlled via the Hive app enabling customers to charge their car from wherever they are and keep track of their expenditure

Henry Duff, Head of Net Zero at Hive comments: Were getting closer to the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles and with petrol prices at an all- time high, some people may be considering the switch to an electric vehicle. However, it is evident from our research that theres still confusion around EV charging, particularly when it comes to costs. This is one of the reasons were launching the trial of the EV SmartCharge Saver tariff add-on, with the aim of making it available to all EV-owning customers in the future. As a responsible, trusted supplier, its our job to ensure our customers are on the most energy and cost-efficient rates and this new add-on aims to do just that helping customers save money on running an electric car. We understand the move to electric cars can be daunting, so we want to make the transition as simple as possible for those where home charging is an option.

To find out more about Hive EV Charging, please visit: https://www.hivehome.com/shop/electric-vehicles

To find out more about the Hive SmartCharge add-on, please visit: https://www.hivehome.com/hive-ev-tariffs

Link:
54% of drivers want to switch to electric cars within the next 5 years, but confusion around home charging costs could be holding them back - Centrica