INFRASTRUCTURE
Roads
What we inherited
To quote many residents, “Roads that looked like those in a third world country.”
Accomplishments
Almost 40% of our roads have been repaved; some totally rebuilt, including half of Fleet. Map of roads repaved 2006-2008
Benefits
Smoother roads, elimination of vibrations, and well over 50% reduction in annual pot hole repairs.
Water Mains
What we inherited
Pipes filled with gunk and over 50 breaks per year.
Accomplishments
Pipes cleaned with a new chemical treatment and vast majority of worst water mains will have been replaced or rehabilitated by the end of 2009. The rehabilitation is done with a new technique that costs about 25% of replacement and the work lasts about 40 years. The town has recently started a program of regular inspections of all the watermains that will detect small leaks and fix them before they become major breaks. In addition, Hampstead is the first municipality on the island to implement the Water-Gate system. This system prevents flooding by diverting water away from private property and onto the streets.
Benefits
50% reduction in annual water main breaks resulted in much less overtime to fix the breaks and halving the number of flooded basements. After the completion of this year’s work there will be even fewer water main breaks.
Sewers
What we inherited
Sewers that had not been cleaned in many years and, therefore, prone to blockage and overflowing. In 2005, before this administration took power, over 200 basements were flooded.
Accomplishments
Almost all sewers have been cleaned and the most urgent repairs have been made.
Benefits
Dramatic reduction in sewers overflowing and the flooding of basements. To date, in this mandate we have had less than 5 claims for flooding due to sewers.
