NORWICH – The City of Norwich voted to remove two areas originally included in its 2008 re-paving schedule, citing a substantial increase in cost as the reason.

Last week, the city learned costs for re-paving the streets had increased by over 30 percent. Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson showed council members the originally anticipated costs compared to the actual costs. Originally, the city had approved the re-paving of Hale Street, Front Street, Beebe Ave., and Canasawacta Street at a total cost of $98,600. Due to a 30.3 percent increase in the cost of petroleum based materials, the cost for the four streets increased to $127,717.

Although the city has $127,889 available in CHIPS funding, Ivarson said actual quantities needed in paving work can vary, and the possibility of exceeding the CHIPS amount was possible if all four items were kept on the paving schedule.

Ivarson suggested Canasawacta Street be removed from the paving schedule for this year. “I picked the one that cost the least amount of money, but you could pick any one. Canasawacta is also the one with the least repairs needed,” Ivarson said. Only a portion of Canasawacta Street needs to be re-paved. The cost for the street is estimated at $16,294.