saugatuckrivervalley

An artist’s rendering of the proposed Lyons Plain Firehouse shows new garage bays facing away from the street, which, we understand informally, received the go-ahead and variances from ZBA.

NOTICE: Board of Selectmen set Monday, October 6, 2008 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room for a Public Hearing prior to the Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 8pm Special Town Meeting to be held, tentatively, at the Weston Middle School Cafeteria...

Weston OKs up to $900,000 to build a new firehouse
Weston FORUM
Written by Brian Gioiele
Thursday, September 11, 2008

The Weston Fire Department’s dream of replacing the aging, structurally unsound firehouse at its Lyons Plain Road location has moved one step closer to reality.

With a room full of firefighters and emergency medical technicians looking on, the Board of Selectmen voted Thursday to provide a $900,000 “donation” to the fire department, covering half of the $1.8-million estimated cost for constructing a new facility.

The approval — which calls for the town to cover 50% of the project’s price tag, with a maximum expenditure of $900,000 — now goes before the Board of Finance, then, if approved, to a special Town Meeting.
The selectmen’s donation calls for spending $300,000 in each of the next three fiscal year budgets to total the $900,000.

“I look at this as a gift or a donation to the fire department for them to build a new facility,” said Selectman Gayle Weinstein.

Selectman Glenn Major stated he was “100%” behind the new firehouse, but questioned whether the approval could be given Thursday since there were no final cost estimates for the proposed development.

“I’m concerned with the $1.8-million number,” said Mr. Major. “There are no actual bids. We’re looking at the third project in a row without any hard numbers. And for the last two, the final numbers were off significantly.”

First Selectman Woody Bliss said this project differs from work such as the high school auditorium renovation because this is not a town project. Since the auditorium was a town project, the town was required to cover all the cost, but the firehouse is a fire department project that is receiving only a “donation” from the town.

After acknowledging his concerns about the accuracy of the cost estimates presented, Mr. Major joined his fellow selectmen in approving the expenditure. And the vote was met with vocal approval from the crowd.

Timetable

The Lyons Plain firehouse, which serves homes in Weston east of the Saugatuck River, sits on property owned by the fire department. Curtis Gunn, department president, said the hope is for groundbreaking in March, which means any further delays in approvals could hinder the timetable.

With cracks in the floors and walls, leaks, poor heating and ventilation systems, a separating chimney, and decaying cinder block walls to contend with, Mr. Gunn said he is unsure how long the structure will remain safe for occupancy.

“To continue to serve the residents of Weston, the fire department must plan for the future,” Mr. Gunn said. “Ever increasing training requirements and call volume will continue to tax this all-volunteer department. Facilities to accommodate our needs are based on the demands of providing quality public safety service to our community.”

The department has already received approvals from the Planning and Zoning Commission and necessary variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals. But without assured financial assistance from the town, Mr. Gunn said, the department’s plans would be stalled.

“The problem is we’re starting to spend real dollars,” said Fire Capt. Larry Roberts. “We just want an assurance that the town will back us up.”

Mr. Roberts then assured the selectmen that if the project came in at more than the $1.8-million figure, the department would cover the additional cost. And if the project came in at less than the $1.8 million, the town would still be asked to cover only 50% of the total cost.

“The basic fact is the building needs to be replaced due to the fact that the foundation is failing,” said Mr. Gunn.

Built in 1947

The fire department first appeared before the selectmen in October 2007, asking for $900,000 to replace the current fire house, which was originally built in 1947.

The original building uses cinder blocks, a building material now banned from use. And those cinder blocks, in various locations within the building, are crumbling, Mr. Gunn said.

Inside, the main floor of the building’s meeting room has a long, deep crack that runs down the center. Outside, the chimney is separating from the building by more than four inches.

If the building is not replaced and is forced to shut down because of structural problems, Mr. Gunn said, a portion of the town would be left without emergency services close at hand.

“Fire trucks would be dispatched from the Norfield firehouse, meaning a longer response time to get to Lyons Plain, especially with Cartbridge Road out of service,” he said.

While the new plan calls for considerable changes to be made to build a structure that is compliant with building and safety codes, the building footprint would remain the same.

The proposal

The proposed building would be approximately 6,000 square feet, with two stories and garage bays for three vehicles, an increase of one bay. The bays would take up some 2,800 square feet of garage space.

The building would be taller than a residential structure because the fire trucks are nearly 10 feet tall.

In another change, the bays, which currently face Lyons Plain Road and are only several feet from the street, would face the side of the building that opens onto a parking lot. This would allow more room for the trucks to maneuver without going onto the street.

On the second floor of the new building, space would be created above the garage for a training room that would be used for the department’s meetings and social events. On the ground level, there would be room for an office and bathroom as well as the garage bays. And in the basement, there would be space for a gym and workroom. The building would also have an elevator to make it handicapped-accessible.

The new building would also get an exterior facelift and would be remodeled so it resembled a country barn, fitting in with the rural character of the neighborhood. The existing building is gray and nondescript.

Lyons Plain firehouse gets 18 variances from Weston ZBA
NOTE: Weston Fire Trucks are WHITE and YELLOW

Although fire trucks might be red, right now members of the Weston Volunteer Fire Department are seeing green.

The department was given the green light by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, July 8, when the board granted it 18 variances. The variances allow for the demolition of a pre-existing, non-conforming firehouse on Lyons Plain Road and construction of a new one. Curtis Gunn, president of the fire department, said he was happy with ZBA’s decision. “This allows us to move forward with our plan to build a new firehouse. Now we need to focus on the funding,” Mr. Gunn said.

The department would like to break ground for the new firehouse in March 2009.

The town has two firehouses. One is in the center of town on Norfield Road, and the second is located on Lyons Plain Road and serves homes east of the Saugatuck River. The estimated cost for a new firehouse on Lyons Plain Road is approximately $1.8 million. The fire department has $900,000, half the total cost, available for the project, and has asked the town through the Board of Selectmen to allocate the remaining $900,000 in installments of $300,000 over the next three years.

First Selectman Woody Bliss has said in the past that he supports the Lyons Plain project. “I agree, the firehouse needs to be redone. It needs to be done right,” he has said.

Mr. Gunn said the department will present its plans to the selectmen, as well as to the Board of Finance, in September, hoping the funding will be authorized.

“There is an urgent need to replace the Lyons Plain firehouse before it falls apart or sinks into the ground,” Fire Chief John Pokorny said before the variances were issued.

The building on Lyons Plain Road dates to the 1940s and has had several renovations over the years. While the existing firehouse has 3,200 square feet, including the garage bays, the new building will measure approximately 6,000 square feet. It will keep within the existing footprint of the current building, but will be taller. The firehouse is on an undersized lot, and thus needed numerous variances in order to accommodate the new building and parking area.

Variances granted

The 18 variances granted by the ZBA are summarized below and will allow:

1. Construction of a new firehouse on 0.660 acre, being less than three acres.

2. A minimum rectanglular area of coverage on the lot of less than 170’ x 200’.

3. Building coverage in excess of 10% of the site area and combined building and parking coverage in excess of 30% of the site area.

4. Setback of less than 100 feet from the front line, sidelines and back lot line for principal facilities and structure.

5. Setback of less than 50 feet from the front line, sidelines and back lot line for land use.

6. Setback from structure, land uses and facilities of less than 100 feet from the front line and less than 50 feet from the sidelines back parking lot for parking setback.

7. Parking spaces shown on applicant’s site plan to be the total required number of parking spaces.

8. Buffer area to be less than 50 feet in depth or to be not required and to allow the existing natural growth of plants to continue to be the only screening required.

9. Applicant to dispense with the necessity of having to erect a wall or fence providing screening equivalent to an evergreen buffer.

10. Membership in the fire department to be unlimited.

11. Use of the property to be as is, consistent with its obligation to provide fire, emergency, medical, and paramedic services to the people in the town of Weston, as well as the training of firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

12. Maximum structure height of 41 feet, six inches, together with a cupola.

13-18. Variances to each and every one of sections 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375 so that they operate to allow the demolition of the existing firehouse and the construction of a new firehouse, new parking plan and new accessways as shown on the applicant’s site plan, without the effect that the resulting new firehouse, its new parking and access plan, size of its lot, and all uses of the same be made conforming to the zoning regulations.

Hot new plan in the works for Lyons Plain firehouse
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:10

An artist’s rendering of the proposed Lyons Plain Firehouse shows new garage bays facing away from the street.

Members of the Weston Volunteer Fire Department are often called on to save buildings from being destroyed.

But there is one building in town they would like to see come down — their own firehouse on Lyons Plain Road. “The building is in really poor shape,” said Weston Fire Chief John Pokorny.

With cracks in the floors and walls, leaks, poor heating and ventilation systems, a separating chimney, and decaying cinder block walls to contend with, the department is proposing to tear the existing firehouse down and put a new one up in its place.

Curtis Gunn, president of the department, said he would like to break ground for a new firehouse in March 2009.

But first there are two obstacles the department has to overcome — funding, and land use approvals.

The Lyons Plain firehouse serves homes in Weston east of the Saugatuck River. The town has a second firehouse in the center of town on Norfield Road

The Norfield firehouse is owned by the town of Weston. But the Lyons Plain firehouse is the fire department’s responsibility because the department is the property owner.

According to attorney George Guidera, who represents the fire department, the Lyons Plain Road property was deeded to the fire department for the express purpose of constructing and operating a firehouse. In the event the property ceases to be operated as a firehouse, title would revert to the heirs of the previous owner. “As long as there is a firehouse on the property, it belongs to the fire department. There’s been a firehouse there for 61 years and there will be a firehouse there for 61 more years,” Mr. Guidera said.

While the town of Weston provides equipment and trucks to Lyons Plain, and some benefits to its firefighters, it does not pay for the maintenance and repair of the Lyons Plain firehouse building. Those costs are borne by the department.

The town also does not pay salaries to the firefighters, as they are an all volunteer service.

Cost

The estimated cost for a new firehouse on Lyons Plain Road is approximately $1.8 million, according to Mr. Gunn.

The fire department has $900,000, half the total cost, available for the project.

“The department knew this expense was coming and has been putting money aside for it for several years,” said Mr. Pokorny. The department’s funding sources have come from donations as well as the proceeds from the sale of property the department used to own on Dillon Pass, he said.

But the department still needs $900,000 more for the project so it is asking the town to help. Mr. Gunn and other members of the department have asked the selectmen to consider allocating $300,000 for the next three years so they can make their goal.

First Selectman Woody Bliss said he supports the project. “I agree, the firehouse needs to be redone. It needs to be done right,” he said.

The fire department’s plan needs to be presented to the selectmen as well as the Board of Finance before funding can be authorized, Mr. Bliss said.

Urgent need

Chief Pokorny said there is an urgent need to replace the Lyons Plain firehouse before it falls apart or sinks into the ground. The building dates back to the 1940s and has had several renovations done to it over the years.

“What’s now the existing garage is made of cinder blocks and they are in bad shape and starting to crumble in places. I’m not sure if the building will last two or five years. It’s becoming unusable,” he said.

Inside, the main floor of the building’s meeting room has a long, deep crack that runs down the center. Outside, the chimney is separating from the building.

The department first considered making repairs to the building, but when the costs were added up, it was just about the same to build a new structure, Chief Pokorny said.

If the building is not replaced and is forced to shut down because of structural problems, a portion of the town would be left without emergency services close at hand. “The response from Norfield to that side of town is pretty long,” said Chief Pokorny.

Mr. Gunn agreed. “Fire trucks would be dispatched from the Norfield firehouse, meaning a longer response time to get to Lyons Plain, especially with Cartbridge Road out of service,” he said.

Mr. Gunn recalled several emergencies in which the Lyons Plain firehouse was the first to respond, including the rescue of a family by boat when a storm flooded the Saugatuck River, and a fire at a home on High Noon Road that was contained to the garage and did not spread to the house. “We saved that home,” Mr. Gunn said.

Same footprint

While the new plan calls for considerable changes to be made to build a structure that is compliant with building and safety codes, one thing would remain the same.

“The new firehouse would have the exact same footprint as the existing one,” said Mr. Gunn.

That means the firehouse, which is only several feet from Lyons Plain road, would not move any closer, nor would it expand in the back or sides. The new firehouse would however, go upwards a bit.

“The existing firehouse is 3,200 square feet. That includes the garage bays and everything,” said Fire Captain Larry Roberts. He said the existing garage bay for the fire trucks takes up about 2,000 square feet.

The proposed building would measure approximately 6,000 square feet. “The new firehouse will have two stories and will include garage bays for three vehicles. The bays will take up about 2,800 square feet of garage space,” Mr. Roberts said.

The height of the building will be taller than a residential structure because the fire trucks are nearly 10 feet tall. “In order to get a truck parked, the first floor needs to be about 13 feet tall just for the vehicles. It’s a necessity to have a taller structure because we can’t make the trucks any shorter,” Mr. Roberts said.

Another change with the garage bays should result in a major improvement with safety. The bays currently face Lyons Plain Road and are only several feet from the street. This means the fire trucks have to back into the bays by pulling onto Lyons Plain Road.

With the new design, the bays will face the side of the building which opens onto a parking lot. This will allow more room for the trucks to maneuver, without going onto the street. “It is a much safer design,” Mr. Gunn said.

Adding a bay

The design also calls for adding one more garage bay, raising the number from two to three. “This will allow room for an ambulance if needed at the firehouse. The present bays are tight, and one of our trucks barely fits into it,” Mr. Gunn said.

On the second floor of the new building, there would be space created above the garage for a training room that would be used for the department’s meetings and social events.

On the ground level there would be room for an office and bathroom as well as the garage bays.

In the basement there would be space for a gym and workroom. The building would also have an elevator to make it handicapped accessible.

The new building would also get an exterior facelift and would be re-modeled so it resembles a country barn, fitting in with the rural character of the neighborhood. The existing building is gray and non-descript.

Mr. Gunn said he understands the department’s plan needs to be approved by various town boards and he hopes the public will come to those meetings so they can learn more about the project.

“The volunteer fire department saves the town a lot of money. It is one of the best bargains the town has. I hope the town will support this project because time is of the essence for this building,” Mr. Gunn said.

Weston Volunteer Fire Department; New firehouse will take a lot of land use approvals
Weston FORUM
by Patricia Gay
May 30, 2008

The Weston Volunteer Fire Department is going to have to jump over several hurdles before it can replace its existing firehouse on Lyons Plain Road with a new building. Those hurdles were outlined at a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, May 19.

George Guidera, the attorney representing the fire department, said there are several steps the department has to go through before the project passes muster with the town’s land use requirements. The first step involves resolving a problem with the town’s zoning regulations, he said.

Mr. Guidera said that in 1947, his grandfather donated land on Lyons Plain Road to the fire department for the construction of a firehouse. The property is owned by the fire department, a private entity, and not the town of Weston. The town does, however, provide the department with vehicles and equipment. The town’s current zoning regulations say firehouses are permitted in residential districts, but special permit approval is necessary, which must comply with the section of the regulations that apply to firehouses.

The problem, Mr. Guidera said, is that in January, P&Z changed its zoning regulations and the section applying to firehouses was removed and incorporated into a new regulation governing municipal-owned buildings. However, since the Lyons Plain firehouse is not owned by a municipality, the new regulation does not apply to it, and there is no other regulation that pertains to privately owned firehouses.

“When the commission made the change to its regulations, it completely overlooked the fact that the firehouse was not owned by the town,” Mr. Guidera said. To that end, Mr. Guidera requested that P&Z amend its zoning regulations so privately owned firehouses are included in them.

The commission voted unanimously to set a public hearing date of Monday, June 2, to consider the amendment to the zoning regulations. Stephan Grozinger, a volunteer firefighter, recused himself from all discussion and voting.

Next step

Assuming the commission approves the amendment, Mr. Guidera said the next step is to apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a number of variances, because the existing firehouse does not conform to setbacks, height and other requirements.

Then, assuming approval from ZBA on the variances, the next step will be to go back to P&Z for special permit approval, while simultaneously seeking approval from the Conservation Commission, because the firehouse sits within 100 feet of the east branch of the Saugatuck River and falls under that commission’s jurisdiction.

If the hearings on all the applications are held quickly, Mr. Guidera said approvals for the new firehouse could be in place by July. Otherwise, the approval process will be bumped to September because the commissions do not meet in August. Mr. Guidera said the existing firehouse, built in 1947, is in poor condition and is sinking into the ground.

“The building is built of cinderblock and is long in the tooth,” Mr. Guidera said. He said the department needs a new building badly, and the firehouse is very important to the community because it is the only emergency service facility in that area of town.

The town’s one other firehouse is on Norfield Road in the town center.

Emmanuel ultimately received the go ahead!
EMMANUEL SPECIAL PERMIT PUBLIC HEARING BEGINS...
Planning and Zoning holds special meeting (Tuesday at 8pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room) to consider Special Permit application for Emmanuel Church new parish hall. Size of parking lot and coverage as well as safe exit and entry and respect for neighbor the issues. Also, Emmanuel intends to have a generator and be an emergency shelter opportunity for the East Side of Town.

"About Town" attended in order to see what the application is all about. New parish hall is to be second in importance to Greek Revival church itself. But similar in proportion and design. Public Hearing on this Special Permit application continues on December 3. Maps must be stamped as "official" and not just for planning purposes, a recommendation of the Town Engineer.

Emmanuel plans for new parish hall
Weston FORUM
by PATRICIA GAY
Nov 20, 2007

A model of Emmanuel Church’s proposed new parish hall, left, shows what it will look like after its expansion. —Patricia Gay photo
After successfully lobbying for an easing of the zoning setback requirements for churches and houses of worship, Emmanuel Episcopal Church is now before the commission with a proposal to build a new parish hall.

In July, P&Z approved a new regulation giving churches and houses of worship wider front and side lot setbacks than they previously had. The regulation also gives the commission discretion in implementing the location and sizes of buffers within those setbacks.

A public hearing on the plan was scheduled to be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Because the hearing is being held after The Forum’s deadline this week, it will be reported in next week’s Forum.

Intention

The church intends to demolish its existing 7,200-square-foot parish hall, located at 285 Lyons Plain Road, and replace it with a new structure measuring approximately 10,500 square feet.

The new parish hall will have three levels, including a main level where the main greeting room and kitchen are located, a lower level for the nursery school, and a second level for church and nursery school offices.

The hall will be located in the same area where the existing hall is, except it will cover more space. “The existing hall is very much out of date. The new hall will be more handicap accessible and will have an elevator. The nursery school will be brought up to code,” said the Rev. David Feyrer, the church’s pastor.

He said the church has raised close to $1.5 million for the project to date. However, since it has not gone out to bid yet there are no hard fast numbers. “The church is considering both stick built and modular structures and will compare the costs and the benefits of both types,” Mr. Feyrer said.

The hall is used on Sundays for the church’s coffee hour after the service, and is a major facility for the church’s annual fair. In addition, the church operates a nursery school in the hall during the school year.

Impact

One of the concerns raised during the regulation change hearing was the impact the plan will have on its neighbors.

In addition to increasing the hall’s size, the plan also calls for adding five spaces to an existing parking lot, and moving an existing playground closer to the church’s lot lines on Emmanuel Lane, a private road.

At one of the previous regulation hearings, Bill Lomas, who lives on Emmanuel Lane and is also a parishioner of the church, objected to the plan. He said he was concerned that since the new hall would be bigger in size, it would be able to accommodate more people and the buffer zone between the church and his house might not be adequate.

He also expressed concern that reducing the setback requirements could decrease property values.

Mr. Feyrer said the church plans to provide sufficient plantings to effectively buffer the church from Emmanuel Lane. “Our intention is to put in a nice, natural barrier with trees and shrubs, but no fencing,” he said.

He said the parishioners are committed to the project and would like to resolve any issues the neighbors have.

NOT SO NEW NEWS: Read stories about FEMA declaring Fairfield County a disaster for things like Cartbridge ("government" only considered eligible)!

Weston's Cartbridge Road bridge is once again open to traffic
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Thursday, October 30, 2008

Of the 20 or so people gathered at the official opening of the Cartbridge Road bridge, probably none was happier than Betty Kaye.
“It’s finally done! I’m just thrilled,” she said.

Ms. Kaye and her husband, Seth, live at 1 Cartbridge Road, the property that overlooks the Saugatuck River and the bridge that crossed it — until that bridge was wiped out by a nor’easter nearly two years ago.

Ever since, the Kayes, and their neighbors across the river, have had to drive about five miles out of their way to get from the Lyons Plain Road side of the bridge to the Goodhill Road side.

Not anymore.

Last Friday, Oct. 24, contractors handed over the Cartbridge bridge to the town.

“I came out to look at it, and the only thing not done was the striping,” said Weston First Selectman Woody Bliss. He was assured striping would be done “in the middle of the night,” and sure enough, by Saturday morning, yellow double lines ran across the black asphalt.

On Monday, the town held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the bridge to through traffic. On hand were Mr. Bliss and Selectman Gayle Weinstein; Congressman Christopher Shays, who helped push the bridge project through federal channels; fire and EMS personnel, who led the parade of traffic across the bridge after the ribbon was cut; contractors, engineers, and town employees; and, of course, several residents like Ms. Kaye, who were happy to finally have their road back.

“I’m excited — the bus can actually come to our house now; I don’t have to drive my daughter anymore,” said Lydia Cohen.

Her daughter, Celeste, was invited to cut the ribbon when the time came, an act that was accompanied by the clicking of cameras, the roll of a video camera from Channel 12, and lots of applause.

Afterward, a police car, fire engine, and ambulance led the way across the bridge.

Mr. Bliss said he was pleased with the bridge replacement project. It was just about 18 months from the time the bridge was damaged in April 2007 to its re-opening this week.

Because President George W. Bush declared Connecticut a disaster after the nor’easter that damaged the bridge, the town was able to procure partial funding for the bridge work from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and get the project fast-tracked.

FEMA is paying for 75% of the estimated $1.269-million cost of replacing the bridge. The town will pay the remaining $325,000.

There were some delays along the way, caused by utility poles that had be moved, and ledge rock found shallower than expected when drilling. But overall, Mr. Bliss said, the project was completed more quickly than most, and the timeline was about what he and other town officials expected.

“Next up, Valley Forge bridge,” the first selectman said right after the Cartbridge ribbon cutting.

The town had been about to start construction work on the deteriorating Valley Forge bridge when the Cartbridge bridge was damaged. Not wanting to have two bridges out at the same time, the town delayed work on the Valley Forge one until the Cartbridge one was repaired.

Cartbridge bridge in Weston is a bridge again
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Friday, October 10, 2008

Once again, the Cartbridge Road bridge crosses the Saugatuck River. Traffic, however, will have to wait a few more weeks.
After months under construction, and nearly 18 months after the bridge was damaged in a storm, the east and west banks of the river are again connected. Precast concrete bridge span sections were lowered into place by crane about two weeks ago. Last week, the arches were waterproofed, backfilling began, and a bridge rail was installed.

Tom Landry, Weston town administrator, said backfilling was scheduled to be completed by the end of this week. In addition, removal of the cofferdam was set to begin Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Once drainage work is completed, paving is due to start late next week, followed by striping an installation of a permanent guardrail.

A dry hydrant will also be installed in the river at the bridge site.

Only construction equipment is allowed to cross the bridge at this time. It should be open to traffic by the end of the month, if not sooner, Mr. Landry said.

The bridge has been closed to traffic since it was damaged during a storm in April 2007. Cartbridge Road, when the bridge is operational, connects Goodhill Road with Lyons Plain Road.

Because President George W. Bush declared Connecticut a disaster after the nor’easter that damaged the bridge, the town was able to procure partial funding for the bridge work from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and get the project fast-tracked. FEMA is paying for 75% of the estimated $1.269-million cost of replacing the bridge. The town will pay the remaining $325,000.

Once the bridge work is completed, FEMA will come to inspect it, Mr. Landry said.

THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE, SO FAR...THAT'S WHY WE CALL THESE THINGS "DISASTERS"

Weston's Cartbridge update: Bridge span to be laid next week
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Friday, September 19, 2008

After almost two and one-half months of delays early on, and a few weeks later than predicted at the end of July, work on the Cartbridge Road bridge replacement is expected to be done in just about a month from now.

Tom Landry, town administrator, said everything seems to be “progressing quite nicely” on the project, which is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 24. There is a possibility the bridge will be open to limited traffic about a week earlier than that, Mr. Landry said.

According to the latest revised schedule, four precast concrete bridge span sections are supposed to be delivered and installed sometime before Sept. 25, Mr. Landry said. Finishing touches then include installing several layers of asphalt and striping the pavement.

Damaged

The bridge has been closed to traffic since it was damaged during a storm in April 2007. Cartbridge Road, when the bridge is operational, connects Goodhill Road with Lyons Plain Road.

Because President George W. Bush declared Connecticut a disaster after the noreaster that damaged the bridge, the town was able to procure partial funding for the bridge work from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and get the project fast-tracked. FEMA is paying for 75% of the estimated $1.269-million cost of replacing the bridge. The town will pay the remaining $325,000.

Revised schedule: Contractor says Cartbridge Road bridge will likely open in October
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Thursday, August 07, 2008

A utility pole that stood in the way of progress on the Cartbridge Road bridge replacement project has finally been removed.
The project, originally due to be completed July 2, now has an end date of Oct. 27. But, it will likely be open to at least limited traffic about a month before that.

Complete Construction Company, the contractor replacing the bridge over the Saugatuck River, said in a letter to the town dated July 24 that the replacement schedule has been “negatively impacted 80 working days.”

Reasons for the delay stated in the letter include “unrelocated utility poles,” “higher than anticipated water levels,” and a “stop work order for additional borings.”

Now that some of those obstacles have been overcome (including a utility pole that had to be moved by Connecticut Light and Power after electrical, telephone, and cable TV wires were moved), the contractor has revised its construction schedule “to expedite completion of the project,” the letter states.

The revised schedule calls for the four pre-cast concrete bridge span sections to be delivered and installed between Sept. 3 and Sept. 5; it will open Cartbridge Road to one-way traffic on Sept. 23; and the project will be completed, except for the punchlist, on Oct. 2.

Tom Landry, town administrator, said he is glad to see some progress, but he continues to monitor the project closely. “We’re pushing them pretty hard” to get the bridge opened even earlier — “ASAP” — he said.

Damaged

The bridge has been closed to traffic since it was damaged during a storm in April 2007. Cartbridge Road, when the bridge is operational, connects Goodhill Road with Lyons Plain Road.

Because President George W. Bush declared Connecticut a disaster after the nor’easter that damaged the bridge, the town was able to procure partial funding for the bridge work from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and get the project fast-tracked. FEMA is paying for 75% of the estimated $1.269-million cost of replacing the bridge. The town will pay the remaining $325,000.

First Selectman Woody Bliss said even with the delays, he is pleased with the speed at which the bridge is being put back into service.

“We’ll be done in 18 months,” he said. “...That’s about half the time [the Department of Transportation] told us it would take originally.”

Mr. Bliss credits Congressman Christopher Shays (R-4th) with expediting the project. “He brought in FEMA and has been very supportive,” Mr. Bliss said.

Because the town opted to go with the FEMA reimbursement, rather than the slightly higher (80%) state reimbursement, it was able to avoid many permitting and procedural holdups.

“We gave up 5%, but we got the bridge a year and half sooner. I think that’s good economics,” Mr. Bliss said.

He compared the progress to that of the Wells Hill bridge, which is in Easton, but connects to Wells Hill Road in Weston. “My guess is [Wells Hill] will take twice as long as it took us to do Cartbridge ... roughly as long as the state DOT tells you it will take,” Mr. Bliss said.

Next up

As soon as the Cartbridge project is completed, the town still faces yet another bridge replacement project.

The Valley Forge Road bridge has been listed in “poor” condition. It was due to be replaced beginning the summer of 2007.

The town had to put that project on hold when the Cartbridge bridge was damaged. “We couldn’t have two bridges out of service at the same time. That would have been crazy,” Mr. Bliss said.

Unfortunately, he added, the Valley Forge bridge can’t go out to bid until the Cartbridge bridge is finished, Under state law, bids are only good for 30 days, “so we have to wait until we can be in a position to award a contract,” Mr. Bliss said.

The town likely will accept state aid for the Valley Forge bridge, Mr. Bliss said. It means that the total time to replace the bridge, from engineering work (that has already been done) through construction, is expected to be about three years, not including the delay while Cartbridge has been under construction.

“That’s how long it takes to build a bridge. It just takes time,” Mr. Bliss said.

Building a bridge: CL&P relocates pole at Cartbridge
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) has moved electrical wires from a utility pole that is standing in the way of construction work on the out-of-commission Cartbridge Road bridge. But, as of earlier this week, the pole remains. The reason is that cable television and telephone wires are still attached to the old pole.

Tom Landry, Weston town administrator, said CL&P began moving its wires on Monday, July 7. Mitch Gross, spokesman for CL&P, confirmed on Thursday, July 10, that the power company had completed its portion of the work — sort of.

“Our poles and wires have been relocated,” Mr. Gross said. “As soon as we finished our portion of the work, AT&T and Cablevision were notified right away.”

Electrical wires are always located at the top of utility poles. Mr. Landry said once the cable lines (always closest to the ground) and the telephone lines (in between power and cable) are transferred to the new utility pole, CL&P will need to return to remove the old pole.

First Selectman Woody Bliss said this week he was relieved the power lines had finally been moved, but he is still anxious for the project to move along. He met with the project engineer, Arthur DiCesare, and representatives from the contractor, Complete Construction, at the site last Friday, July 11. “Their estimate was a Sept. 15 completion date,” Mr. Bliss said.

With all the delays the project has experienced in the past year, however, Mr. Bliss is not quite ready to write that date on his calendar in permanent marker. “We’ll see what happens. I’m pressing the hell out of them to just fix it and get it going again,” Mr. Bliss said.

The bridge, which crosses the Saugatuck River, has been closed to traffic since it was damaged during a storm in April 2007. Cartbridge Road, when the bridge is operational, connects Goodhill Road with Lyons Plain Road.

Because President Bush declared Connecticut a disaster in the wake of the nor’easter that damaged the bridge, the town was able to procure partial funding for the bridge work from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and get the project fast-tracked. FEMA is paying for 75% of the estimated $1.269-million cost of replacing the bridge. The town will pay the remaining $325,000.

Plagued by delays

Construction on the replacement bridge began at the beginning of March of this year, and was scheduled to be completed by the end of June, but delays ensued almost immediately.

Work on the east side of the river could proceed only so far because of the utility pole that was in the middle of what is to be the new bridge. The wires on that pole could not be moved until a new one was installed; the new pole could not be installed until easements with neighboring properties were worked out. That included the town signing an indemnification agreement on behalf of one of the neighbors.

Once it looked like the easements were in place, Mr. Landry said, CL&P then claimed it needed to receive “aerial rights” across the Saugatuck because its power lines would be in a new location.

A date was set at the end of June to finally relocate the wires, but it was further delayed when CL&P said it needed more time because it had to get approval from Call Before You Dig, a clearinghouse that provides a communications link between anyone excavating and public utilities that may have underground lines.

Other reasons

The delays have not all been because of the errant utility pole, however.

When the contractor was drilling for footings, it stopped about five feet short of what had been specified in the bridge plans, claiming it had reached bedrock. The engineer disagreed.

As is, the footings that were in place were able to hold nearly three times the weight that is specified for the bridge. The problem lay in a question of adequate “scour protection.”

All drilling stopped around Memorial Day. About a month later, a compromise was reached when the engineer and Complete Construction agreed to put in four additional pilings instead of going to the original depth. Construction workers were at the site last week and this week, installing the pilings.

Cartbridge: Bridge work hits more roadblocks
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 11 June 2008 12:14

As they often say in New England, you can’t get there from here.

The old maxim is certainly true for those who were used to traveling on Cartbridge Road, normally a common cut-through between Goodhill and Lyons Plain roads. And it looks as if it’s going to continue to be true until at least the end of the summer.

“At this point, we’ll be lucky if we make it in time for the school buses to start using it again in September,” said Tom Landry, town administrator.

The Cartbridge bridge over the Saugatuck was permanently damaged in a storm more than a year ago — in April 2007 — and has been closed to traffic ever since.

Construction on the replacement bridge began at the beginning of March, and was scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.

“Not going to happen,” Mr. Landry said last week.

There are two main issues holding up the work, Mr. Landry said.

The first is a disagreement between the contractor, Complete Construction, and the project engineer, Arthur DiCesare, about where bedrock begins.

Mr. Landry said when the contractors were drilling for footings, they stopped when they believed they reached bedrock — about five feet short of where they had to be to comply with weight and scour protection requirements.

The engineer said it was just rock, not bedrock, and that drilling should continue. Complete Construction disagreed.

The town hired another firm, Dewberry, to do some test borings. Dewberry recovered core samples at the site and determined the bedrock indeed begins about five feet below where Complete Construction stopped drilling.

However, the contractor still does not believe it is necessary to continue drilling, Mr. Landry said. The footings are required to hold a maximum of 85 tons; at the depth they are now, they would be able to hold about 220 tons, nearly three times what is specified for the bridge.

The problem, Mr. Landry explained, is that for proper “scour protection” — to ensure that the movement of the river bottom doesn’t chip away at the bridge footings — they must drill the additional five feet.

“They’re going to have to figure out how to drill a different way, or they might have to leave the coffer dams at the bottom of the river,” Mr. Landry said. That, however, is a much more expensive proposition for the contractor.

Drilling stopped around Memorial Day, and as of this week, had yet to resume. “We will get this resolved. Eventually,” Mr. Landry said.

Power company

The second major impediment to the bridge work is that Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) has refused to move a utility pole that is in the middle of what is supposed to be the new bridge. Until it is moved, work on that side of the bridge (the Lyons Plain side) is at a standstill.

“CL&P feels there are potential easement issues,” Mr. Landry said.

The good news is that CL&P does have easements for the property onto which it needs to move the pole on the Lyons Plain side of the river, as well as for the property on which a connected pole sits on the opposite bank.

The problem is that in moving the one pole, the angle of the power lines that cross the river and connect to the pole on the opposite bank will change. CL&P claims it needs “aerial rights” once those lines move, and those rights are not specifically stated in the current easement agreements.

CL&P has asked the town to indemnify it against any potential future problems. Mr. Landry said he does not feel it is necessary for the town to do so.

“They’re already there,” he said of the power lines across the river. CL&P says it does not want to be responsible for problems with the lines, but if they are already there, Mr. Landry asked, what’s the difference?

The issue is getting closer to a resolution, Mr. Landry said. Town officials and CL&P representatives had a conference call on June 5, and CL&P agreed to temporarily move the pole. But the company still has to decide whether to run the lines up Riverbank Road and along Cartbridge Road (on the Goodhill side of the river) or to keep them going across the river. So the pole won’t be moved until June 27.

“We don’t really understand what the problem is, and we don’t really care,” Mr. Landry said. “For goodness sake, move the darn pole. I’ve got a bridge to build.”

The contract with Complete Construction said the bridge work had to be done within 150 days of signing, which would be the end of this month.

“We’re definitely not going to hit that date,” Mr. Landry said, but some of that is the power company’s doing, he added. “I think there’s clearly some need for accommodation here,” he said.

Mr. Landry said it is likely the bridge will not be open until the end of the summer. The contractor cannot submit plans for the bridge span, which is built off site, until the current issues are resolved. From the time the plans are submitted, it takes at least five weeks to build the span, he said.

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING
At Selectmen's special meeting on October 4, 2007 at 6pm, Cartbridge two versions shown - new bridge design (see virtual bridge design above) to receive joint meeting review by Conservation and Planning and Zoning later in the month. See notice below.

Cartbridge Road bridge goes to public hearing
Weston FORUM
by PATRICIA GAY
Oct 19, 2007

The plan to replace the Cartbridge Road bridge will be reviewed at a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room at town hall.

The hearing will be conducted jointly by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Conservation Commission.

P&Z will decide whether the bridge meets the standards of Connecticut General Statute 8-24, and the Conservation Commission will discuss floodplain management and the bridge’s impact on wetlands.

Under an 8-24 review, P&Z must decide if the replacement of the bridge is a suitable and appropriate use of town property.

The bridge was heavily damage by flood rains in April and has been closed to vehicular traffic since then.

The proposed replacement bridge will be 9 feet longer than the existing bridge but would remain the same height, said Tom Landry, town administrator. He said it would be made from pre-cast concrete.

CARTBRIDGE BRIDGE - TOWN TO SEEK F.E.M.A. MONEY
by BRIAN GIOIELE
June 13, 2007

With a disaster declaration in hand, town officials are pushing for federal funds to aid in the replacement of the Cartbridge Road bridge, damaged during the April nor’easter that doused the state.

The Board of Selectmen last Thursday, June 7, voted to authorize First Selectman Woody Bliss to make a grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking 75% of the cost to replace the Cartbridge Road bridge, repairs of Godfrey Road West at Pent Road, and other related expenses resulting from the mid-April rainstorm.

Town officials have had four separate meetings with FEMA officials in recent weeks regarding the damage, after President Bush declared Connecticut a disaster area because of the destruction caused by the April 15 storm.

Mr. Bliss said he was pleased with the declaration, since it meant Weston would get a share of emergency funds to replace the bridge, which could cost between $600,000 and $800,000, according to estimates.

Officials say that FEMA will reimburse the town for police and public works overtime expenses, the cost of the Jersey barriers they had to place on the bridge, vehicle mileage for trucks and police cruisers during the storm, debris removal costs, and even expenses for meals workers ate while on the job.

Some seek quicker fix

But even this reimbursement opportunity has not stopped some residents from seeking a quicker resolution to the bridge closure.

However, town officials say bypassing the FEMA route still poses potential scheduling roadblocks.

“We could do it ourselves with FEMA aid,” said Mr. Bliss. “It would reduce the time schedule, it would reduce the number of permits required, but it doesn’t get a bridge built this summer.”

Mr. Bliss said that even without the additional permits required with FEMA aid, the town would still need to have hydraulic tests performed before there could be any bridge designs completed. The plans must then go to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for review and approval, a process that could take up to two years.

“I’ve talked to people at DEP, told them about our situation, and was told the process could be done in two to three months, possibly,” said the first selectman. “In the end, there would be a few less permits, but it won’t save us much time.”

The main concern is the traffic troubles on secondary roads in the area of the Cartbridge Road bridge closure. Nearby River Road is being used as a cut-through, and there is also more traffic on Goodhill and Lyons Plain roads, which authorities say are not used to this type of traffic volume.

Police Chief John Troxell said that the Police Commission last week approved a plan to place stop signs at Goodhill Road at River Road, making that intersection a four-way stop. Chief Troxell added that the department will increase its presence on River Road as well in an attempt to slow the increasing traffic on the roadway.

BOARD OF SELECTMEN HOLD REQUIRED INFORMATION SESSION FOR PUBLIC, MAY 17, 2007:
This was planned way in advance for the the Valley Forge Bridge only - 20-30% done with design now, plan is to reroute traffic during construction, (beginning optimistically, April 2008). A Selectman, we think, asked if under the State Bridge program there was anything like an "emergency" to speed up Valley Forge project, considering that Cartbridge was no longer usable. The answer from Department of Transportation engineer in charge - "No."

Questions about Cartbridge Bridge kept popping up - it is to be repaired under the umbrella of FEMA (Federal Government), according to First Selectman and folks from Maguire (engineers) and confirmed by CT DOT...however, the DOT individual pointed out that there is an "emergency" factor in FEMA regs - this is a good thing. (Now that CT received disaster declaration, at least for infrastructure like Cartbridge.)

IMPACT:
What is the traffic impact on the Davis Hill Bridge, as well as the Valley Forge/Lyons Plan/Kellogg Hill intersection going to be like? Has anyone run the numbers (i.e. traffic consultanr or SWRPA, which studied this intersection and made recommendations in the past)? Can't be good...we'll check the accident history on roads and at interestions near these two operating bridges from time to time...RIVER ROAD is fourth bridge in Weston - First Selectman reminds us that there is one at this spot!

First Selectmen Peppered With Questions
Westport News (part of story relating to Weston)
Don Casciato
May 16, 2007

"...A query about a bridge in Weston, which will be out of commission for between six and 12 months, produced some angst. The person asking the question claimed that Bliss' earlier answer to the man's wife seemed 'specious' and he wanted to know why a temporary bridge couldn't be installed...

"Another topic included flooding problems and how to cope when 'we don't have the manpower. That's what keeps me awake at night' said Bliss."

"On the...issue of affordable workforce housing, Bliss said Weston lacks the sewers needed for such a project. 'The fact of the matter is the bridge is in a federal flood plain'" said Bliss. 'We are moving rapidly on our end...'"

Earlier report:

Cartbridge bridge replacement: A long road lies ahead
FORUM
by PATRICIA GAY
May 9, 2007

The bridge on Cartbridge Road, which was severely damaged in the recent nor’easter, is not going to be reopened anytime soon. “It may be out of service for a year or more,” said First Selectman Woody Bliss. According to Mr. Bliss, a report from a team of engineers — including a diver who explored the bridge’s underpinnings — states the bridge cannot be repaired and must be replaced...full story here...