Maple End flood control project on tap

An $8.2 million drainage improvement project along Route 6 is likely to gain approval from the State Bond Commission this month.
At least most of the money is earmarked to replace a massive culvert between Burlington Avenue and the Northside Square shopping center on North Main Street.
“That’s been on the table a long time,” said Mayor Art Ward. “That will be great to get that cleaned up.”
Gov. Jodi Rell announced Wednesday that $8.2 million in funding for the Route 6 drainage improvements will be on the March 28 bond commission agenda. Almost everything that reaches the bond panel is approved.
“This investment will make Route 6 a safer road,” Rell said in a prepared statement. “Fixing the drainage problems on Route 6 in Bristol will not only help in preventing accidents on that stretch but will also benefit businesses in the area.”
According to plans that have been on file with the city’s public works department since 2006, the state plans to intercept water along the railroad tracks beside the Whole Donut shop and funnel it into a new culvert, which would also capture other water in the area.
The new culvert would cross the tracks and generally follow Route 6 to the west before cutting under the state road in front Best Cleaners and connecting to another culvert at Northside Square.
Many related improvements are also shown on the plans.
“It’ll be a big improvement,” said City Engineer Paul Strawderman.
Though officials warn the area will be a mess during construction, they say that once it’s done, businesses, residents and motorists will benefit from a safer, dryer road.
Ward said that flood control projects in nearby neighborhoods have been on hold for years until the state could fix the Maple End flooding woes.
Once the state work is done, he said, the city can begin to address other concerns in the vicinity.


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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com