Tea Lane Residents Clamor for Paving Ancient Town Byway

By MAX HART

Fed up with the ruts and potholes on their dirt road, residents along historic Tea Lane in Chilmark are pleading with town leaders to consider paving the 242-year-old byway.

"This is not just a colonial road anymore," Thomas Rivers, a resident who lives off Tea Lane, told the Gazette this week. "This is a colonial road in modern times, and it is failing its residents. It is past time that the town responds accordingly, and some of us think that means paving it."

In a meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday but postponed due to the weather, Chilmark selectmen will take up the subject of maintenance on Tea Lane on Feb. 8 at the town hall. The meeting stems from numerous requests by Tea Lane neighbors. Residents from Meetinghouse Road, another town dirt road, also requested the hearing.

"I know they have their problems, too, but Meetinghouse is a dream compared to Tea Lane," Mr. Rivers said. "The town is going to need to put some major money into this."

Some Tea Lane residents say the ancient way, which runs between Middle and North Roads and got its name from the contraband tea hidden there from the British during the Revolutionary War, has deteriorated under heavy traffic from the growing number of homes off the road. Increased use of the lane by heavy construction vehicles has exacerbated the problem.

Proponents of paving say because of these factors, Tea Lane can no longer be adequately maintained as a dirt road.

"It's hopeless. As soon as it rains, the road is back to being a mess," Mr. Rivers said. "I measured a pothole recently and it was nine inches deep. I'd love to see it paved for our safety, if for no other reason."

"This is now becoming a serious safety issue," agreed resident Edward (Spider) Andresen. "The conditions are so bad that someone driving too fast could easily lose control and cause an accident. It's time the town face and deal with this issue."

Mr. Rivers agreed. "It's a lawsuit waiting to happen," he said.

Chilmark executive secretary Timothy Carroll said the town spends $20,000 a year on maintenance for Tea Lane and Meeting House Road. At a selectmen's meeting earlier this month, Mr. Carroll suggested that paving the road could save Chilmark money on maintenance in the long run, but he estimated the cost of paving at well over $150,000.

Town meeting approval would be required to pave either road.

Tea Lane has been targeted for special protection more than once over the years. In 1987, the town voted to impose a one-year subdivision moratorium on 614 acres along Tea Lane to slow development. Selectmen also have endorsed numerous conservation restrictions - aimed at preserving the historic character of the old byway - on properties fronting the lane.

Selectman and board chairman Warren Doty warned against a rush to judgment.

"Any paving at all would be a big change at a big cost that would require a lot of discussion," Mr. Doty said. "Right now we need to sit down, look at the problems, including water runoff and traffic volume, and figure out how to best solve these problems. I am not convinced paving the road is the best solution, or that the town is ready to go in that direction."

The Feb. 8 hearing will take place at the town hall at 4:30 p.m.