Council OKs road plan despite gripes about narrower streets

The Port Washington Common Council set in stone the city’s 2019 street projects, despite the objections of some people living along several of those roads.

Several residents living on Crocker Avenue and Roger Street had asked that the city not narrow their roads as much as planned, saying it would affect their quality of life.

But officials noted that narrower roads will slow traffic, allow the city to increase the parkways for trees and snow storage and to improve safety.

Only a couple residents complained about the narrowing of the streets, Public Works Director Rob Vanden Noven told the Common Council Dec. 18.

The only change to the city’s initial street plan that was approved by the council was the construction of a hammerhead at the end of Roger Street. This will create a T-intersection, which will allow large trucks to turn around there instead of using residents’ driveways, Vanden Noven said.

One resident of the street had asked the city to do something to solve the problem, saying that the trucks that use their driveways while turning destroy the pavement.

Numerous water main breaks have occurred on many of the roads being repaired, indicating the water mains under them need to be replaced, Vanden Noven said.  

The 2019 street projects include Roger Street from Melin Street north, Summit Drive from Portview Drive to Lincoln Avenue, Garfield Avenue between Second and Fourth avenues and Third Avenue from the alley to Garfield Avenue.

They also include water main work on Western Avenue/Ravine Street from Division Street to Oakland Avenue.

The improvements to Crocker Avenue from Grand Avenue to Melin Street are being designed, but officials aren’t sure if they will be built next year.