Kingston Selectmen Approve Road Paving Plan for 2025
Board accepts $700,000 proposal to mill and overlay sections of four streets; discusses transfer station hours
KINGSTON - June 3 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen approves a comprehensive plan to resurface several town roads in 2025, focusing on sections of Crescent Street, Elm Street, Ring Road, and River Street at a cost of approximately $700,000.
Interim Superintendent Shawn Turner presents the plan at the June meeting, explaining that the roads were selected using specialized software that scans streets and provides a pavement condition index (PCI) for each road in town.
"We have this program that we signed up for probably about two years ago. We had a company come in and scan all the streets. It gives us a pavement condition index of every road in town," Turner says.
The software allows the department to input a budget amount and receive recommendations on which roads should be prioritized for paving. Turner notes that some recommended streets were removed from the list because of upcoming planning department projects in those areas.
All roads on the approved list will receive a two-inch mill and overlay treatment, which involves grinding down the road surface and applying new pavement.
"It just works better that way. It holds up longer, it takes the cracks out of the road," Turner explains. "With a mill and overlay, you should get a good 15 years out of them."
Town Administrator Keith Hickey provides additional context on the road selection process, noting that the software breaks down roads into specific segments. For example, one section of Crescent Street from Kennedy Road to Harborview Drive will see its PCI score improve from 53 to 83 after the work is completed.
The funding for the project comes from Chapter 90 state funds. Turner reports that Kingston currently has $171,000 available and will receive an additional $642,759, bringing the total to $814,000 for road improvements.
Turner also mentions plans to try a different paving process called "hot in place asphalt" on Parting Ways Road. This method recycles existing asphalt by heating it up, grinding it, and releveling it.
"It's probably about a third of the cost of a mill and overlay, so we're going to try that on Parting Ways Road," Turner says, adding that the process still provides a 10-15 year life expectancy.
The board also discusses the town's overall pavement condition index, which currently stands at 58 out of 100.
"Our PCI level right now is 58 as a town. You'll never be at 100, you'll never be at 80, but if we wanted to be at that level of maybe a 90 PCI, it would cost $20 million," Turner explains.
In addition to the mill and overlay work, the plan includes crack sealing on Elm Street, Nottingham Drive, and potentially a portion of South Street if funding allows.
The board unanimously approves the recommended roads for paving and crack sealing.
During the same meeting, the board discusses the recent change to transfer station hours. The transfer station will no longer be open until 7:45 p.m. on Mondays, instead closing at 3:45 p.m.
Hickey explains that keeping the transfer station open later on Mondays costs the town approximately $22,000 annually in overtime pay. The board had approved this change during budget discussions in January 2025.
"The cost of that is $421.52 weekly, or just almost $22,000 annually," Hickey says.
Board members note that while they understand some residents prefer the evening hours, the decision was made as part of necessary budget adjustments.
"As much as we want to have the transfer station open Monday nights, I think everyone does, the reality is that something had to give and we had to adjust some things," says Vice Chair Kim Emberg.
Hickey reports that usage during the evening hours varies by season, with only 4-5 cars per hour in fall and winter, but increasing to 30-40 cars per hour in summer months.
The board maintains its previous decision on the hours, with members expressing that if additional funding becomes available in the future, they would consider reinstating the evening hours.
Other notable items from the meeting include:
* The appointment of Adam Doucette as interim streets, trees, and parks foreman
* Approval of a one-day liquor license for 42nd Brew Company for the First Parish Church yard sale
* Appointment of Police Chief Brian Holmes as an additional animal inspector
* Acceptance of a $100 donation for the Kingston Memorial Day Parade
* Reappointment of Kim Emberg to the Plymouth County Advisory Board
* Appointment of Don Alcombright as the Kingston representative to the Old Colony Metropolitan Planning Organization, with Emberg as backup
* Appointments to the Council on Aging Advisory Board and the Kingston 300th committee
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for June 17, with a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. regarding the proposed Department of Public Works, followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m.