WATERFORD – Voters approved appropriating more than $1.7 million Saturday with $222,000 going toward maintenance of roads and bridges.

Road Commissioner Bradley Grover explained that an $11,000 increase for the care of winter roads was due to rising prices for fuel, salt and sand. The $125,000 appropriated for winter roads in 2004 was almost 10 percent higher than last year’s budget of $114,000.

Grover also reported that after 17 years of construction, only a half mile stretch remained undone on Deer Hill Road, connecting Waterford and Harrison. One resident questioned why the road was being improved at all.

“Speeding is horrendous, traffic is awful. Why do we have to put so much money into it?” Grover said that with the amount of new construction on the road, “it’s a well-traveled road.” Selectmen added that at one time, school bus drivers refused to travel the road in winter. Voters approved $30,000 for the completion of the project.

After defeating a measure to close the Cross Street bridge, voters approved $50,000 to repair or replace the Fiske Road bridge. Grover said that a steel bridge would cost about $34,000, plus labor to remove the old bridge and put the new one in. He reported that the town of Norway has installed three bridges like the 35-foot long prefabricated bridge he would like to use on Fiske Road with good results.

Voters also approved closing the end portion of the Grover Road. Selectman Charles Fillebrown explained that Davis Kimball had requested that the road be terminated at his property.

“I guess he’s tired of pulling people out in spring,” he said. Kimball, who is not seeking damages to his property value as a result of the road closing, will maintain the closed portion at his own expense for use as a logging road. The decision will now be reviewed by the town’s attorney to settle any legal issues that may arise.

A special town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 15, to discuss the transfer station. Voters approved $130,000 for the use and maintenance of the station after much debate, but Selectman Charles Fillebrown said that other measures pertaining to the issue had arisen too late to be included in this meeting.