Willard Avenue Traffic to be Rerouted for MDC Project
NEWINGTON - A $10 million sewer project will prompt the rerouting of southbound Willard Avenue traffic at night while closing a lane on each side of the congested Cedar Street during day work hours as the Metropolitan District Commission, (MDC) works to remedy an overwhelmed system that has caused sewage overflows in more than 20 Newington homes.

       Project Manager Adam Thompson laid out the project, the installation of an 18-inch thick sewer relief system along northern Cedar Street between Old Farms Road and Mill Brook, as well as a 20-inch thick water main running from Veteran’s Drive to Old Farms Drive, as town residents voiced concerns and made suggestions pertaining to everything from control of traffic volume and construction noise to safety during a public meeting held last Tuesday night in the Town Hall auditorium.

       â€"We realize the severity of traffic, but we also realize the severity of the sewer backup,” Thompson said. â€"And the best solution is to get a pipe in the ground.”

       Southbound Willard Avenue traffic--to be redirected during the MDC’s month of night work in July--will run onto Alumni Road and back out onto Cedar, according to Thompson. That will prompt the need for the long-standing Department of Transportation (DOT) gate that separates Willard Avenue and the other half of Alumni from Newington Arena and the Newington High School football fields.

       The DOT has already approved the night opening of the gate, but residents and town councilors who attended asked if it would be possible to make this a full-time fix.

       â€"The state has allowed it at night because traffic volume drops off,” Thompson said.

       Having the gate open during the day could divert a much higher volume of traffic onto residential streets, he said.

       Resident John Bachand suggested exploring additional alternative routes that can be suggested to motorists passing through the area, and Thompson said that the project team would consider it.

       The night work will run from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to Thompson. Councilor Maureen Klett voiced concerns regarding the noise level of construction and how that might impact nearby residents.

       â€"You’re talking about a whole month of night work, and I think that’s an issue,” Klett said.

       Klett asked if it would be possible to have nearby residents connected with hotel accommodations if the noise makes it difficult to sleep while pointing out that the warmer summer months may prompt homeowners to leave their windows open.

       The project budget does not currently include that, but noise complaints are among many issues that will have to be addressed, Thompson said.

       â€"It is construction. It is loud,” he said. â€"And that’s why we’ve gone back to the state-again and again-to try and shorten the project.”

       Through the extension of day-time work hours--construction at the Cedar/Willard intersection will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.--the MDC was able to take 40 days off of the contract so far, according to Thompson.

       Noise mitigation measures-such as turning off equipment and vehicles when they’re not in use and laying sand where concrete is being dumped-should also help, he said.

       Then there’s the issue of safety. Reports of individuals posing as MDC workers in order to gain access to homes have emerged during recent months, and residents wanted to know how the Commission plans to deal with that.

       â€"The person at the door is not going to know what an MDC badge looks like,” Klett said.

       So the Commission will be providing fliers and other literature designed to let residents know what to look for, and what designates legitimate MDC personnel. Names of workers on duty should also be provided, MDC representatives said.

       Bachand suggested handing out a laminated image of an MDC badge in order to provide an exact description-a measure Thompson said he’d look into.

       MDC workers should not need to gain access to homes during the project, Thompson said.
MORE NEWINGTON NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Feb 15 2016  |  COMMENTS?