In addition to clearing , workers will tackle Dinglebrook, Hanover, Gopher and Schoolhouse Hill roads today, First Selectman Pat Llodra said.
In total, Newtown still has 17 roads that are impassable due to broken poles and downed trees and utility lines, officials said. Clearing those thoroughfares, also known as "make safe" work is a high priority, Llodra said. Without access, emergency vehicles will have difficulty reaching residents in those areas.
Six Connecticut Light & Power crews, or in total 12 workers, were in town Wednesday to assist with the clearing work. In addition, work to restore electricity in town continues slowly with Llodra saying she believes most, but not all of town, should regain power by Friday.
The focus for Wednesday is Church Hill, Commerce and Hanover roads and The Boulevard. Walnut Tree Village, areas north of the flagpole on Main Street and possibly parts of Hanover Road also were slated to have their power restored, officials said.
As of Wednesday noon, about 60-percent of the town remained in the dark. Significant progress was made Tuesday when most of Main Street and parts of Sandy Hook regained power but more work remains.
While town officials said they have enough tree crews -- which includes from CL&P as well as five private tree companies the town has contracted with -- utility workers remain scarce, which has hampered restoration efforts, Llodra said.
"The pace of the work is slow," she said. "What we are missing is enough of the power crews."
Based on her conversations with CL&P, Llodra said she believes the majority of the town should have its power back by Friday but full restoration will take longer, adding that she has doubts about the Sept. 7 deadline CL&P chief operating officer Jeff Butler had set for full restoration across the state.
"At the pace of the work, we're seeing, it doesn't leave me confident," she said. "If that is your goal, then you better give us more workers."
Llodra said she has told the company she is "disappointed" at the response the utility has exhibited.
"We need to never have this level of response again," she said.
The town also began offering free ice and bottled water to residents at Reed Intermediate School Wednesday with another round planned for Thursday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Residents who lost electricity are urged to throw away all of the food in their refrigerator. Covered dumpsters are available for food disposal, courtesy of Associated Refuse Haulers, at the Botsford and Hawleyville volunteer fire departments and at Newtown High School. They will be marked "Food Waste Only." Residents also can throw out food waste at the Transfer Station free of charge and without a permit, officials said.
The transfer station hours on Wednesday also have been extended to sundown.
Showers are now available at Reed as well as Newtown High School, which regained its power. The Senior Center also reopened while Children's Adventure Center next door remained closed but expects to reopen Thursday.
All park and recreation facilities including fields were closed today.
