Franklin is committed to reducing stormwater run-off and preserving it's natural waterways. One way to achieve this is to reduce the amount of impervious surfaces. The Department of Public Works looks for opportunities to decrease roadway width (where applicable) to reduce the amount of impervious surface, and therefore reduce stormwater run-off. If possible, sidewalk removal is often coupled with roadway reduction as a cost saving measure and to further decrease impervious surfaces. Narrowing roadways not only reduces run-off but uses fewer resources to construct and maintain, resulting in increased savings.
In 2013, Island Road and Pyne Circle underwent roadway reconstruction. The new roadway design included sidewalk removal and cul-de-sac reduction.
Anchorage Road was rebuilt in 2012, during which the roadway was narrowed from 30 feet to 28 feet. The combination of the new roadway width, the removal of one sidewalk and the replacement of the cul-de-sac (with a rain garden) resulted in the reduction of impervious surface by 20,000 square feet.
In 2007 a major road reconstruction project took place at Bright Hill Estates (Dailey Drive, Martello Road, Irondequoit Road, Mucciarone Road and Iroquois Road); the subdivision was constructed in the 1980s when standard road widths were 32 feet. The project decreased the road width to 28 feet and eliminated one sidewalk, resulting in a 70,000 square foot reduction in impervious surface.
Cul-de-sac reduction on Island Road
Impervious surface reduction at Pyne Circle
Anchorage Road, sidewalk removal and roadway narrowing
