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03/14/2017 12:00 AMWork on the intersection of Hemingway and Coe avenues in the Cosey Beach area of East Haven, which is prone to significant flooding during major storms, is expected to start this summer and be completed by the end of 2018, town officials say.
At its March 7 meeting, the East Haven Town Council passed a resolution allowing Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr., to secure grant funds that will go toward the reconstruction of the intersection.
The town will receive $1,241,831 from the Connecticut Department of Housing’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1,655,000, so the town has bonded $414,000 to cover the difference.
Economic Development Director Sal Brancati gave an update on the process at the meeting, noting that a request for proposal for final engineering was issued last month. The town has received three submissions and will make its selection after submissions are reviewed. Preliminary plans have already been drawn and approved by the state.
Brancati said that as long as the right engineer is selected, the project should start in the summer, and should be completed by Dec. 31, 2018.
The plan calls for raising the intersection of Coe Avenue, Hemingway Avenue, and Short Beach Road by two feet. That would eliminate flooding during minor storms, and would only leave a negligible amount of water during major storms.
Brancati said that state funds for reconstruction projects became available after Superstorm Sandy, and said that awareness of the need for improvement became very apparent during the storm, which caused heavy flooding in the intersection.
“You needed a payloader to get through,” he said.
While the storm showed the worst of what could happen at the intersection, the problem has been a persistent one even during smaller storms. Public Services Director Kevin White said that the intersection has issues with water several times per year.
Maturo said he’s pleased that the town received funding for the reconstruction. He acknowledged that flooding in the intersection has been a problem for many years, and said the reconstruction efforts will make a huge difference for the safety of residents in the Cosey Beach area.
“He knew it had to be done,” said Brancati, “He instructed me to secure the grant to protect the residents.”
Brancati said that he has spoken to residents in the area, and they understand the necessity of the project. He said they are also very appreciative that there will be a means of egress in the event of another major storm.
He also said the construction will not affect businesses in the area, and said that there are no problems organizing with utilities, though traffic lights and wires will need to be raised.
Maturo signed the Infrastructure Assistance Agreement and sent it back to the Department of Housing on March 8, the day after the meeting.
According to Brancati, the Department of Housing will send back a checklist that the town must follow. The next steps in the process are to complete the balance of the engineering and to reconfirm budget and timelines. Once that happens, the town can put the project out to bid for contractors.