Sewer Line Excavation Disturbs Underground Electrical Vault in Cos Cob

Constructions crews installing the new sewer mains along Strickland Road in Cos Cob hit a bit a roadblock when excavation for sewer lines undermined some of the dirt surrounding an underground vault containing electrical circuits, officials said Thursday.

First Selectman Peter Tesei said the incident occurred late Tuesday afternoon when the workmen for the contractor discovered the vault as they dug the ground to continue installation of 2,200 feet of 24-inch sewer force main lines along Strickland Road between the Mianus River Boat Club and Cos Cob train station.

Tesei said, “This is a serious issue for the utility (Connecticut Light & Power) and for the town.” He said the dirt around the vault was undermined and there was fear whether the vault would collapse, creating power outages in “significant portions of town.”

Tesei said the contractor, Joken Development of White Plains, NY, has insurance to cover any additional costs for repair work.

According to Tesei, the town’s Department of Public Works, the contractor and engineers from Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) are working to develop a solution.

CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross told Greenwich Patch Thursday, “We obviously want this stabilized as quickly as possible. Our engineers have been meeting with (DPW Commissioner) Amy Siebert and will be meeting again within 24 hours.”

Gross added, “Our engineers have a plan in place … there is no evidence of stress on the circuits in the vault. We have taken action as quickly and safely as possible.” He also said it not possible to calculate how many electrical customers would be affected should the circuits or vault fails.

Tesei also said the situation “Underscores the discussion of underground  placement of utilities. There’s so much infrastructure underground currently, it creates challenge of where you place” future utilities such as the sewer line.

Because of the pending repair work, there may be detours in the area, Tesei added. The project will continue from Strickland Road, across the railroad parking lot, then beneath the railroad overpass at Station Drive and Sound Shore Drive, and up Sound Shore to Sachem Road, and is scheduled for completion by late fall.