Cold mix asphalt and a polyethylene culvert were some of the cost saving measures Professor Albert Robitaille's class from Vermont Technical College's, or VTEC, Tech Civil and Environmental Department presented to members of both the Selectmen and Trustees last week.

Last Monday members of the class presented solutions for Alpine Drive, Lovers Lane and the lack of a sidewalk along Route 12 South from the Town end of Crescent to about the crosswalk at Norwich's parking lot.

Students addressed the alligator cracking, frost heaves and inadequate drainage on Alpine Drive. They recommended a six to ten inch base of gravel be laid down, trees be removed along the right of way, and ditches be dug that went deeper than the road bedl, to keep water from gong "under the road bed", as it does now. The also recommended the use of cold mix for the asphalt, citing lower costs in transportation and the ability to "self-fix" frost heaves during the summer.

They also presented three possibilities for a sidewalk along Route 12 that would go from about the end of the Crescent south to the Norwich parking lot on the eastside of Route 12. they said the the most expensive and dangerous option would be to blast out the ledge on the west side of the road, the second option would be to put the sidewalk on the east side, and he least expensive would be to continue the sidewalk theat currently goes on campus, but have it fenced and gated so that only students could access the gates through card readers.

The estimate given by the students for the reconstruction and and paving of Lover's Lane was about $450,000 dollars. They said that some savings would be realized by "digging up the good material" for reuse on the road. They recommended deeper ditches be dug and that five 18-inch culverts be used.

Selectman Melvin Adams said that he was "thinking more culverts" would be needed and that they should be larger than 18 inches, as that is the size used for "driveway culverts."

Selectman Charles Morse asked if the class took "into consideration traffic calming for post construction."

The class recommended that the speed limit remain the same and that the sharp curve in the road be banked with a guard rail.

The following night the class spoke to the Trustees and some of the Selectmen regarding the replacement of the Central Street culvert located near Plumley Armory. They recommended the use of a 150-foot polyethylene pipe with a 60-inch diameter for the culvert and provided an estimate of about $33,000- $40,000 to install it. They also presented an alternative of ending through traffic and installing a foot bridge to span the brook that runs through the current culvert. They estimated the cost of the bridge at about $100,000, and said that theDubois and King bid for replacing the culvert was about $250,000.

The Trustees went on that night to give provisional approval to the Green Moountain Motor Heads Car show to be held on the common August 21-22. The board gave approval with the understanding that more details would be forthcoming about the parade route and the weekend's itinerary.

The Trustees also approved the return of the Farmer's Market on the common.