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2012 – Road Reconstruction Controversy Grips Liberty Grove

The discussions surrounding re-paving Isle View Road have been ongoing for two years. With a 3-2 vote on July 26, the Liberty Grove Town Board approved a plan from engineer Steve Parent of Baudhuin Incorporated to widen the pavement from 18 to 20 feet, adding two-foot shoulders. The plan also allows for the centerline of the road to shift, saving about 25 trees. Photo by Len Villano.

Where one group saw a simple repaving project, others saw a sinister attack on Liberty Grove’s heritage and rustic charm.

But finally, after two years of prickly discussions at public meetings, in July the Liberty Grove town board voted 3-2 to repave Isle View Road and widen it by two feet.

This was the second time the board came to the conclusion to widen and repave the road. In February, 2012 the board voted, again 3-2, to widen the road. Construction was set to begin on March 19, but didn’t. Widening a road means cutting trees, and a vocal group of Liberty Grove residents feared that would chip away at the area’s rural beauty.

Then, in late March, the board hired Baudhuin Incorporated engineering firm to look at road construction to decide what plan was best for Isle View Road. At a special board meeting on July 26, the engineer recommended widening the road, but offered to move the centerline in order to save some favored trees. Supervisor Robert Tidball challenged the engineer’s traffic counting, done on Memorial Day weekend. Tidball set up his own secret camera to count traffic, and found fewer cars on the road.

Droves of Grove residents attended the meeting, challenging the need for another wide county road, even reading excerpts from a Norbert Blei essay to display the cultural significance of windy, canopied roads.

Still, the board passed a motion to widen the road by two feet. At the July meeting, town clerk Walter Kalms promised only 70 trees would be cut. He then rescinded the statement, alleging he had accidently counted just one side of the road. The real number of trees cut would be 140.

The speed limit on Isle View Road was dropped to 45 mph, and 35 mph in some areas. The trees have been cut, and Kalms said more construction will take place next year.

But road controversy isn’t over in Liberty Grove. Garrett Bay, another beloved, canopied road, is up for repaving.