New Britain herald., 1928-05-12
REPAIR OF MYRTLE STREET

One of the reasons why Myrtle street, west of the present concrete pavement, should be repaired is be- cause the fire department has been finding it difficult to maintain speed coupled with safety over that stretch of so-called pavement. En- zine house No. is at Myrtle and Curtis streets, and occasionally the cquipment must use this pavement greatly to the discontinue of the boys risking their lives on the apparatus as it bumps over the cavities. Bus drivers, too. are irrl- tated: and perhaps also the passen- gers. As for private drivers and truck drivers, they seem to avoid the street as much as possible, which is q pity seeing as it could well be utilized as supplementary outlet 10 parts of the west end section.
 City Engineer Merian's plan for an improved pavement over the section complained of has appealed 10 the Board of Public Works and favorable action is under way. The board and the engineer are to be commended for recognizing the condition Of this rather important street without unnecessary delay and being quick to act What is need ed Is . smooth Myrtle street its en- tire length: and when this ls achieved why not go a step farther and improve Burritt street to it's junction with West Main street on the one side, and up the hill on the other?
 The improvement Of Burritt street is important because it would furnish an improved alternate route from West Main street beyond the Black Rock bridge to Main street downtown without of course necessitating the battle with the lights from High street to the Center and then the trip around the triangle to Main street. A trip in the oppo- site direction would be similarly ad- Nantageous.
 This route can be followed now, of course, if anyone happens to an inferior pavement in preference 70 the smooth pavement the length Of West Main street. The fact that few do so indicates that the smooth pavement is preferred regardless Of the inconvenicnces of the congestion met near and at the Center.
 During the Weld administration all effort was made to induce heavy traffic. such as trucks. to utilize the alternate routes through the city rather than contributing their bulk 10 the congestion along the more popular routes through the Center. it appears that the suggestion. possessing only the sanctions of moral sulsion. had little effect. ln- doubtedIy one good reason for this negligible result has been that the city lacks impro}e ed alternate routes. Opportunities to provide them. however, exist; aud the Myrtle l3urritt street route is onr of them
 Obviously, whil. on this subject. il ie well to call attention 10 the fact that tn. test route for Burritt street in it's junction with West Main street would be q straight line across the railroad tracks 10 the point where south Burr't joins West Main street. That, indeed, was the original layout of the street. Years ago. following q grade crossing acci- dent at what was then Bur litr street and the railroad tracks, inc crossing was closed and the junction of Eurfitt with West Main street curtaiiel to the north of the Black Rock bridge. Ii IS yet possible 10 return 10 the original street layout, with q bridge over the railroad for B1rri't street: and there can be little doubt jt Burritt street at 'h" sane time were an improved through fare the route to Myrtle street and thus 10 Main street and that sec ton of hc city wonid be popular. There may be slight chance oi such an improvement being made now or in the near future, but in our opinion fl is well to dwell upon such possibilities occasionally, 50 that when q time comes in the future tor action 2 more general concop- ton Of zplla' can ne done IS general fly AnoTa.