Neighbors Work to Fill Potholes on Private Road [PHOTOS]

The residents of Atlantic Avenue in Hampton Bays said they have accomplished what they set out to do: repair their private roadway in one day, spending less than $1,000.

The project got underway on Sunday morning after Paul Visentin, an eight-year resident of Hampton Bay, called on his 40 neighbors to help fill in more than 15 potholes on the road.

Visentin said his call to arms brought out seven neighbors who helped with labor and seven additional residents who reached into their pockets to help fund the project.

"Atlantic Avenue from start to finish is totally fixed," said Visentin, adding that while he appreciates the support of his neighbors, he wished more would have helped.

"If groups of people all living together on the same road can’t help each other, these roads will never get fixed," he said. "I wish more people who lived on Atlantic would have come out and supported us, but either way we got the job done in only one day."

The residents who helped repair Atlantic Avenue, Visentin said, got to work at 7:30 a.m. and finished at 7:30 p.m.

"You can sit back and complain all you want, or you can get up and actually do something about it," he said, adding that if other residents of private roads need help repairing their streets, he would be happy to help.

His message to them: "You will be amazed at what you can accomplish."

Atlantic Avenue is one of 562 private roads in the Town of Southampton and one of 155 in Hampton Bays. Because of existing laws, the town's highway department has no obligation to repair or maintain them, except in an emergency situation.

Area residents have mixed views on if the Town of Southampton should start the process of taking over private roads — a plan has been put forth by North Sea resident John Watson, who is also the chair of the town’s ad hoc unimproved roads committee.

His plan, after much research, calls for bringing between 5 and 8 private roads into the town system per year at an estimated cost of $500,000 per year.

Related Reading:

• Hampton Bays Resident Takes Road Repair Into His Own Hands
• Should the Town Take Over Private Roads?

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