HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) -
State officials paid thousands of dollars to repave a portion of Broad Street in Hartford; however, a week later, it is being ripped up again.
On Saturday, the surface of Broad Street was paved with a new asphalt. On Monday, the road was torn up again and a jersey barrier was blocking a part of the road.
According to Department of Transportation officials, a 20 by 100 patch of pavement on Broad Street was torn up for about $20,000 for the controversial multi-million dollar New Britain to Hartford Busway project.
"There's a lot, a lot more other things probably coulda used the money for," said Michael Duckson of Hartford.
The busway project is expected to take care of an estimated 16,000 riders a day between New Britain and Hartford, state officials said. It will cost about $567 million with the state paying for $112 million of it. The general contractor for the project is Manifort Bros. Construction with 20 subcontractors.
However, the road had to be resurfaced for Saturday's Hartford Marathon. One inch of asphalt was laid down for the race where usually several more inches are used.
"This one caught us by surprise a little bit and it is certainly partially our fault," said DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick.
State Sen. Joe Markley is not shocked by the mistake and has been a critic of the proposed busway.
"We're gonna see unintended consequences on this project," he said.
If the state had left the rough surface on the marathon course, it would have caused safety and other problems for what's one of the largest annual one-day draws in Hartford, which raises $1 million for charity each year.
"Big picture, tens of thousands of people, major economic engine for Hartford, it was a very easy answer for us," Nursick said.
Copyright 2012 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
