Rt. 72 Opens, Long Swamp Under Construction

One road project in Bristol is now completed as another one on Long Swamp Rd. begins this week, as residents find ways to improve their access to I-84. The long awaited project to improve drainage and sight lines on Long Swamp Rd. began last week, leaving much of the road between J&M Pizza and Stanley St. as gravel for now. That project is intended to widen the road for traffic to flow more freely. The actual roadway at Stanley St. will be a foot or more below its current level. Traffic coming out of Clark and Stanley Streets have trouble seeing over the present hill and a stop sign will also be erected for eastbound traffic on Long Swamp. When contacted about the project earlier this year, most residents were favorable to the construction. Some neighbors complained about the problem sight lines as well as vehicles using Clark st. as a bypass. But some of the complaints about drainage is why the road is undergoing a complete overhaul. Residents along the north side of Long Swamp have complained about water run-off from the roadway into basements and so the base of the road is being re-worked.

At present, it is unclear whether or not Clark St. will be a dead end when a second state project to re-design the Woodtick Rd. and Wolcott intersection begins possibly next year. That project is tentative due to the state budget, of course. The Long Swamp d. project is also a state project funded by federal stimulus money.

In a reverse trend, residents in the North End will begin to find a quicker way to work if they commute towards Hartford. Rather than navigatin the tiwsty streets of Forrestville along Rt. 72, the new 72 extension was finally opened Monday afternoon. The 1.9 mile semi-freeway runs into the highway portion at the Plainville line. While this is a straight four lane road, motorists should watch their speed as the road has only a 40 mph speed limit and is interspersed with traffic lights. The road may help motorists in Wolcott’s North End shave off a few minutes off their commute time. Bristol merchants are looking forward to completion of the project which is still without headaches. The final half mile of the extension to Rt. 229 is yet to be completed.

More on Rt. 72: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-bristol-highway-0928-20100926,0,1124435.story

Markley Testifies Against New Electric Tax

At a hearing Tuesday evening in downtown Waterbury, Republican State Senate candidate Joe Markley strongly urged commissioners of the Department of Public Utility Control to block plans to convert a surcharge on utility bills, due for phase-out, into a new tax to fund the bloated state budget.

“The legislature tried to sneak a tax increase by us,” said Markley. “They took a surcharge on our electrical bills which was due to expire—the Competitive Transition Assessment—and turned it into a tax. Instead of cutting the budget, they tried to pick our pockets, hoping we wouldn’t notice.

“It is the height of hypocrisy, exactly the reason so many people are frustrated, cynical, even angry about government. The same politicians who bemoan high electric rates are pushing those rates higher, instead of addressing their addiction to spending. And they do it dishonestly, picking a tax they think they can hide.

“Fortunately, the people are awake, and folks across the political spectrum are standing up against such political shenanigans. What we need is transparency in government: we can’t drain the swamp in Hartford unless the light reaches it.”

Markley said the DPUC is not to blame for the tax, but encouraged them to take a stand against it. “They know it’s bad policy. If they have the courage to say no, I believe the people of Connecticut will stand with them. If they cave in and rubber stamp this outrageous tax grab, residents and small businesses will pay the price, since electricity is not an option but a necessity of our daily life. The utility commissioners have an obligation to do all they can to block a move they know is underhanded and damaging to our economy.

“I pledged long ago to fight any increase in taxes, and what I’ve seen in recent years strengthens me in that resolve. I’ll seize every opportunity I have to oppose tax hikes, especially a job-killer like this one said Markley.

Markley Event Larger Than Expected

A reception yesterday evening at the Manor Inn in Milldale featuring Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon drew over two hundred attendees, and a handful of protestors.

“I knew we would have a good event,” said Joe Markley, 16th District State Senate candidate. “The campaign has really picked up momentum these last few weeks. Still we were surprised by the turnout—two hundred guests, more than double what we’d planned for. Fortunately, the Manor Inn can handle anything!

“That crowd is a credit both to the campaign team we’ve assembled and to the excitement that Linda McMahon generates on the campaign trail. As I said when introducing her last night, I was a skeptic myself at first, but it’s impossible not to like and respect her once you get to know her.

Other candidates in attendance and supporting Markley included Mark Boughton (Lt Gov), Martha Dean (AG), Jeff Wright (Treasurer), and legislative candidates including Rusty Haigh (Southington), Rob Sampson (Wolcott), Richard Abbate (Cheshire), Len Suzio (Meriden), Kathy Brown (Prospect). Tom Scott, a long time radio host who also assisted Markley in assembling the anti-tax rally of 1991 also attended.

A story by Mark Paznoikas is available at: http://www.ctmirror.org/story/7520/mcmahon-embraced-tea-party. Video of the event has been posted on youtube by palinsmith at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgvQhwxXY0o and http://www.youtube.com/user/PALINSMITH#p/a/u/2/oJ8MinXLkC0