CITY OF HARTFORD – FLOOD CONTROL DIKE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT

News Release

(August 18, 2006)--- The City of Hartford is undertaking a comprehensive program to repair and improve its Flood Dike Control System so that it continues to be fully functional and able to protect key regional assets, such as the MDC Sewage Treatment plant, the State Armory, the State Capitol, and the many businesses in Downtown Hartford that employ more than 120,000 people.

Several conditions have developed on the dikes and floodwalls that require repairs.  In certain areas, trees and brush have taken root and are growing on or near the dike.  Ditches designed to drain water away from the dike during flood conditions have become silted in and choked with vegetation since their original construction.  Nuisance animals, like woodchucks, have dug burrows on the dike surface.

The City has recently awarded a contract to Northern Land Clearing Inc., of Palmer, MA to correct these problems.  This project will address repairs needed on the earthen dikes, concrete floodwalls and their associated structures.  Specifically, the work will include:

• Clearing trees and brush from the dike system
• Creating approximately 4.4 miles of gravel maintenance access road
• Restoring the riverside embankment to its original design along approximately 1.4 miles of earthen dike
• Removing sediment and restoring proper drainage to approximately 2.2 miles of drainage ditches
• Repairing burrows dug by nuisance wildlife
• Repairing sections of the concrete floodwalls.

The City of Hartford has received permits and approvals from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this work.  The project will cost approximately $3.65 million.  Funding for this work will come from City of Hartford Municipal Bonds. Construction is expected to begin during August 2006.  The project is likely to continue through the end of 2007.

For more information, please contact John McGrane, City Engineer (860) 522-4888 x6525 or Sarah Barr, Director of Communications at x6217.