PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Work on Humphrey Street in Swampscott wrapped up this week, but it took its toll on commuters with more than 30 requests for tows, leaving drivers to cover the cost of repairs.
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Paving was completed on Humphrey Street Wednesday, but not before the project left many vehicles with flat tires.
Abbe Smith, a Swampscott resident, said two flat tires had to be replaced on the driver’s side of her husband’s Honda Hybrid after hitting a raised manhole last Saturday. She intends to send her $380 bill to the town for reimbursement.
“The car’s only six months old and they were brand new tires, so it’s not like they were ready to blow or anything,” Smith said.
Gino Cresta, Department of Public Works (DPW) director, said he’s asked people with flat tires to submit their bills to the town. He will send them to BitCon Corp., the Danvers-based contractor for the project.
Philip Knowles, BitCon owner, could not be reached for comment.
Cresta said three claims of flat tires have been submitted to the town of about $150 each. But he is requesting $1,000 to be covered by Knowles for the final payment. Two other people have told him that they were having their flat tire bills covered by their insurance company.
Town Administrator Thomas Younger said the flat tire reimbursement claims were being handled by the DPW department.
“I have personally received only one complaint,” Younger said.
Matthew Lunt, a manager with Bill’s Auto Clinic in Salem, said 30 cars were towed and there were 14 flat tire changes on Humphrey Street in the past two weeks. But those numbers could double if the vehicles turning onto side streets were accounted for.
“We changed a lot of flats there, but a lot of the cars are running over manholes, cutting tires on the sides,” Lunt said.
When the raised manholes were struck, Lunt said the front and rear tires on one side of the vehicles popped. One morning this past week, two cars were towed at the same time, he added.
Lunt said that’s a “very high amount of calls for that one area” in such a short time.
The road was paved from the Lynn line to the Fish House for three days, June 27, 28 and Wednesday.
Cresta said three consecutive days couldn’t be done because sidewalk curb extensions that are designed to slow traffic were being installed.
With the completion of the paving, the manholes were also level with the road on Wednesday. Cresta said crosswalking striping still has to be completed. Work on the $440,000 project started in mid-May with the installation of 47 handicap ramps. Streetlight replacement with historic decorative lights will take place after all work is completed.
Cresta said he thinks the project went well, especially with the high traffic area. Overall, he said there weren’t a lot of complaints, with people possibly considering the condition of the roadway prior to the work.
“Most people felt the paving of Humphrey Street was long overdue,” Cresta said.
But Smith remembers the hassle of last Saturday when her husband and nephew had to walk home after the flat tires to get her car to bring to Goodyear in Lynn to buy two replacement wheels. This was after they took a chance and drove to a nearby gas station with the flats to be told the place didn’t have the tires they needed. She thought it was strange that the project took place around the Fourth of July holiday.
“I’m really glad that they’re doing stuff to improve the roads, but I think the timing is odd,” Smith said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached art [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.
