The construction meeting of Thursday afternoon, October 19, was a subdued one, and a certain downscaling of ambitions with regard to the project completion schedule seemed to be in the air. While no major problems have been encountered (and the fall weather has been wonderful) Henshue Construction no longer expects to have the path paved as far as Odana before winter (as we reported earlier). It is not even certain, we gathered, that Henshue will complete the grading and gravel work before winter. The main reason for this seems to be construction capacity: the work at the major street intersections (which includes large-scale new drainage systems) consumes most of Henshue's labor and machinery resources, as well as other projects the company is working.

Meanwhile, the retaining wall construction that was set in motion by a subcontractor, beginning at Harrison Street and working westward/southward seems to have come to a complete halt. Everyone is working on many other jobs in addition to this one, we were told. We got the impression that, paradoxically, progress might have been better had the weather been worse.

We were disappointed on behalf of our neighbors and our neighborhood, but since the project is closely supervised by the State DOT, and their representative seems to be satisfied with the rate of progress, there seems to be nothing to do.

At the construction meeting we urged in particular that the retaining wall at Prospect be finished before winter so that removed soil can be backfilled to protect the roots of the large white pines (the preservation of which was a main consideration in the design of the wall in the first place). We also note the several places along the Path where special erosion control measures are necessary. Unfortunately (we were told) these erosion control measures will be among the final stages of completion, and so will almost certainly have to wait until next spring or summer. Silt fencing will remain as the sole basis for erosion control until then.

More specific news: the Midvale crossing is going well. The east side of the street will be completed this coming week, and attention will shift to the Odana crossing, where a new street island will be constructed. It will probably be necessary to handle traffic with a single lane and flag persons for a period at Odana.

Henshue also expects to get back to grading and finishing the earthen base soon (next two or three weeks), and will begin laying the gravel base from the southwest end of the Path. We were told that gravel can be laid even in cold weather and that their goal is to have that material in place to Glenway yet this fall.

We're sorry to communicate what is somewhat bad news on the schedule, news which must seem especially annoying to the many neighbors whose properties directly adjoin the construction zone. We had hoped that their discomfort would be largely over by the beginning of winter.

On a somewhat more positive note we mention again that no major problems have come up so far; and note that one can begin to see that the Path - when it is finally done - is going to be VERY nice.

Paul and Kurt

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