The Long Game Of Whack-a-Hole Has Begun. Hudson Will Likely Not Win.

In recent weeks, I've noticed 3 sinkholes forming along the recently repaved area of the north side of the 400 block of Warren Street.  The paving work was done by a company out of Troy called Bob Talham, Inc., one of National Grid's many subcontractors who are all part of National Grid's natural gas pipe replacement project ordered by the State Department of Public Service.  For what it's worth, Talham's rating on Google is less than two stars out of five.  They do not have a good reputation as a quality paver, and it is already showing on our streets.  I have seen some other shoddy work of theirs elsewhere in town having nothing to do with National Grid's project.   It must be stated clearly:  The City of Hudson did not hire Talham, Inc. to repave our streets.  Rather, National Grid hired them to repave our streets and we will have to live with and likely repair their work for a long time to come.  

I noticed the first two sinkholes about two weeks ago at the edge of Talham's work in the westbound lane in front of the Spotty Dog. While drivers in 4-wheeled vehicles may not have noticed the quickly forming holes, anyone on two wheels headed west easily could have, as I did.  Early last week, I sent an email to National Grid, Hudson DPW, the NY State Department of Public Services and others, though I was not able to include Talham because their website offers no email address.  I asked everyone, "Who is responsible for repairing Talham's already failing paving work done a few weeks ago?"   Within two days, the holes were patched, and it looks as though Talham did the work, not our DPW or National Grid.

This is nothing but a huge RED FLAG

Over the weekend, I came across a third sinkhole further west in the same block that had formed sometime late last week.  It's not large, it's difficult to see, but it is there -- like the others -- along the outer edge of Talham's new pavement.  Our main downtown street was clearly not adequately or properly filled before Talham paved over it.  And it will only get worse over time, perhaps quickly.  I have decided to not inform anyone of this hole just yet -- unless it gets really bad, I'll just wait and see what happens.  Maybe our DPW will notice it and actually try to get someone else to deal with it.  If a sinkhole or four appear on Talham's work 6 months from now, will our DPW be able to call Bob Talham, Inc. and tell them to come fix our failing street?  How about 12 months from now?  How about two or four years from now if sinkholes start popping up all over, including on Green Street, Columbia Street, 3rd Street, State Street and elsewhere where Talham paved our streets?

The most recent sinkhole on Warren, also
courtesy of Bob Talham, Inc.  Warren Street did 
not have a sinkhole problem before National 
Grid's project began last year.

KLANG KLANG !!

Speaking of DPW, they aren't doing a very good job on Warren Street and elsewhere, either. The manhole cover in the picture above, at 6th & Warren, has been loose for several months and makes a wonderfully loud clanging noise anytime a vehicle hits it just right, which happens regularly.  Apparently, loose manhole covers are not high on DPW's priority list, if on any list at all. There is another loose cover on Warren at 7th, one at 8th, and one at 6th and State that has been loose since at least September of last year when I showed it IN PERSON to our dear mayor. He called it "a nuisance" after I asked him if he would consider the noise from the cover to be a quality-of-life issue. That was 8 or 9 months ago. KLANG!! KLANG!! Yesterday someone drove slowly enough over the loose cover that it produced a wonderful rhythm, more like KLANG KLANGETY KLANG KLANG!  I can't help but see and hear the positive in everything, even the unnecessary and unwelcome "nuisances" our DPW offers the residents of Hudson.

Then there are the two holes, one in a crosswalk, that appeared on Warren Street a few weeks ago after Talham finished their repaving work and before the road striping company did their thing.  Those holes did not exist prior to National Grid's gas line project, but there they are now and for the past few weeks.  It's difficult to imagine that DPW Superintendent Robert Perry doesn't mind that Talham left the holes behind for us -- that is, of course, if he and the new foreman are even aware of them.  

It's difficult to say who should be filling those holes in, but I can only assume that Talham left them unfilled for a reason.  Perhaps they did it so that rainwater can drain into them, slowly but surely washing away the dirt and stones supporting the street so as to cause more sinkholes for DPW to repair in a few years.  Perhaps it's nothing more than a prank for the residents of Hudson from Mr. Bob Talham himself.   Haha, so funny!  Of course, Hudson taxpayers will pay for all the necessary work to eventually redo Warren Street.   Yeah, that sounds about right for Hudson, where very little seems to make sense and no one seems to be paying attention.

Whatever!  It's just another f'n hole 
in the street!

Meanwhile, late this morning, at least three DPW workers were deep into a project at the new Code Enforcement Office on Washington Street inside the Firestation.  While they were installing doors and making other renovations, they weren't out making sure our streets are safe, don't look like shit and aren't being "nuisances."  Ask the mayor if he cares.

I guarantee that Mr. Perry will include this work in next 
month's DPW report to the Common Council.

How much longer will DPW ignore this?

Whatever!  It can wait!

State & 6th.  Loose manhole cover -- KLANG KLANG
for 8 fucking months!  The water valve cap to the right
  is also loose and noisy.  Notice the cracks in the street
emanating from it.

The guy on the left in the Crocs makes over $117,000
a year and he does a great job making sure our streets 
are smooth, quiet, safe and attractive, especially when 
someone else does the work for his department, like Colarusso,

On Glenwood near the lake.  It appears that the cover 
was once entirely covered in asphalt as if it were obsolete.
Bicyclists love to come across this kind of neglect!

I can't remember where this is.  Does it matter?
It can be found in the middle of a city street.

The entrance to Railroad Avenue.

Wider photo of the Glenwood mess.  The 
entire shoulder is a disgrace.  You will never see 
a picture like this during Mr. Perry's DPW report!
Gee, I wonder why?!