Flood Control Overview

The Flood Control Implementation Agency gets a Green Light!

Current Status: Flood Control is the most important project where this communty must put its efforts!  The parts are progressing along nicely and we're hopeful that the state and city stars can allign to provide the necessary funding to EXPEDITE the project.

Recent History:  You can click the links get an update on therecently completed Coe and Bradley Bridge Projects and the Hanover Pond Dam Projects.  In addition, Harbor Brook runs through the Factory H Site so it is also an important part of the flood control efforts.

The City of Meriden has suffered major flood damage since the mid 1800’s. Flood control plans were formulated but not funded or implemented in 1871, 1939, 1962, 1965, 1971, 1977, and 1982.  In 1992, flooding caused approximately $14,000,000 in damages.  In April, 1995, the City completed its “Plan for Action on Flood Control for the City of Meriden”, which resulted in the April 2000 “Harbor Brook Flood Control and Restoration Project Plan and Report”.  The plan recommended bridge redesign and replacement, channel improvements, and acquisition of floodplain property for flood storage. Major flooding occurred again in 1996.

Since that time, the City, with State and federal assistance, has undertaken the flood control activities which are listed below with the City funded share of the costs involved: 

• Harbor Brook Project Plan                                           $    500,000
• Corps of Engineers Study                                           $    250,000
• Bridge Design                                                              $    165,400
• Bradley Avenue / Coe Avenue Bridge Construction   $    426,000
• Baldwin Pond Dam Reconstruction                              $    814,633
• Black Pond Dam Reconstruction                                  $    653,184
• Hanover Pond Dam Reconstruction                             $ 1,611,260
• Property Acquisitions-Flaws-Barr Road                      $    431,000
• Property Acquisition-Mase-Barr Road, Pomeroy Ave  $    220,900
• Property Acquisition-Bridges and Dams                       $    272,600
• HUB Acquisition                                                             $  1,685,000
• HUB Reuse Planning                                                      $    155,000

                                                                         Total          $ 7,184,977

The next priorities of the project are to complete the acquisition of upstream properties and implement the detention portion of the project; start the design process to replace the Amtrak railroad bridge; and proceed with improvements at Columbus Avenue Bridge bypass culvert and replacement of the Center Street Bridge.  Thereafter, the State of Connecticut will be replacing the Cook Avenue Bridge while the City is beginning channel improvement work.  The bridge at Cooper Street, the last of the five bridges to be replaced, should be completed in conjunction with the channel work.

The following list identifies work anticipated in the immediate future:  

• Upstream Detention                                                       $  3,000,000
• Railroad Bridge Design Phase                                       $     400,000
• Columbus Ave Bridge Bypass Culvert                           $  1,000,000
• Channel Work-Hanover Pond to Cooper Street              $  3,500,000
• Center Street Bridge                                                       $  2,100,000

                                                                    Total                 $10,000,000

This does not include the cost of flood control work at the Factory H site. In 2007 and 2008, the City received $2.1 million from USEPA for environmental assessment, soil and groundwater clean up and hazards/asbestos removal from site structures.  The city needs approximately $3 million for structural demolition and additional funds for flood control and flood storage work at this site.  

 Background: The Flood Control Implementation Agency (FCIA), under the leadership of Phil Ashton, has been working since 1995 on long term solutions to the chronic flooding problems which have plagued Meriden for more than 100 years.  The strategy is to work from both ends and meet in the middle: we need to secure up-stream storage on the north and east sides of town and rebuild bridges and dams on the south and west sides of Meriden.  Once the problems are resolved, only then will the private sector commit to investment in the downtown area.  The work has been widely supported by City Council, with bi-partizan support and endorsed by many community bodies. 

The componenets of Flood Control willl include replacement or expansion of obsolescent bridges, building upstream flood water storage areas and widening and deepening the channel of Harbor Brook which will include constructiobn of a linear trail along the brook.  Total cost is estimated in the range of slightly more than $25 million. 

Rev. 03/25/2008