Sag Harbor Main Street is scheduled to be repaved from Monday morning through approximately Wednesday, weather permitting. According to the village's Department of Public Works, no street parking will be permitted from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. until the work is complete.
"The good news is, Sag Harbor's not closed," said Ellen Dioguardi, the president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce. "We might resurface our Main Street, but we never roll it up! There's always something to do in the Harbor and businesses are open year-round."
Last winter and spring, National Grid upgraded the gas main that runs underneath the village, chopping up the road. It repaved the parts disturbed during the work, but the paving being done next week will lay a new fresh layer of asphalt through the whole business area.
Rosemar Construction, a paving contractor, will mill, power broom, and clean the road surface before spraying a "tack coat" onto the street, followed by the layer of asphalt.
Mayor James Larocca said the village only learned of the paving schedule early last week. "This is the window they gave us on very short notice. It's unfortunate that we'll have a holiday population out for it, but it was either that or get back in line. We thought getting it done closer to Memorial Day was a worse idea."
Rosemar is just starting its spring schedule and it told Mayor Larocca it is marching east to west. Its first job of the spring is in Montauk. "We're number two. If we were to drop out of line, there's no telling if they could get back to us. We certainly don't want to do this in season," he said.
"Would have been nice for it to happen in February, but I guess it's better than June," said Kyle Sanderson, owner of Grindstone Coffee & Donuts.
Ms. Dioguardi said she had heard from several chamber members, disappointed about the timing. "I think if there hadn't been the issue with the sidewalk repair over the Christmas holiday, the temporary closure of parts of Main Street during the spring school break wouldn't have ruffled as many feathers," she said. "Most people realize this gets done when the schedule works for the company doing the work."
Dee Yardley, the superintendent of public works sent a letter to village residents warning, "If a member of our crew asks you to wait prior to driving in the roadway, it is in your best interest to follow our instructions to avoid damage to your vehicle or the new asphalt."
"As painful as it is, we should get it done," said Mayor Larocca. "The key part is it's a net good thing."
