Politics & Government

Residents' Concerns: Old Greenwich Bridge Reconstruction, Flood Mapping

The Old Greenwich Association's annual meeting featured discussions on pending reconstruction of Metro-North bridges and its impact on traffic; flood zones and the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

 

The prospect of limited access to Old Greenwich and resulting traffic detours during the reconstruction of two Metro-North Railroad bridges in the village was one of the hot-button topics discussed at the annual meeting of the Old Greenwich Association (OGA) meeting Wednesday night.

Both OGA president Dave Rafferty and state Rep. Steve Walko (R-150) reassured the more than 100 residents gathered in the First Congregational Church meeting room that they are working with the railroad, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the town's Engineering Department and the Old Greenwich Merchants Association to ensure the impact of the two- to three-year project will be minimal once it starts in 2014.

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The meeting—that lasted about an hour 45 mintues—also included a PowerPoint presentation by Greenwich Conservation Director Denise Savageau on the Old Greenwich flood plains and the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Savageau said told the residents she hoped her presentation would convince residents to heed town evacuation orders such as the one for Sandy, rather than stay home.

"There's only one way out of Old Greenwich. Once that floods, Old Greenwich becomes an island," Savageau said. 

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Savageau also said the town is working with the city of Stamford and the state of Connecticut to resolve the continuing buildup of silt in Binney Pond. "We cannot continue to dredge, and dredge and dredge," said Savageau, who added that the problem starts upstream with runoff from Stamford through state drainage pipes that run beneath I-95 before heading into Old Greenwich and the pond.

Rafferty said that the OGA has been working closely with the various agencies on the schedule and design of the reconstruction of the rail bridges that span Sound Beach Avenue—the major artery leading into the heart of the Old Greenwich business district, and Tomac Avenue bridge between the Innis Arden Golf Club and the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center on Harding Road.

Rafferty told the residents who braved soaking rains from a line of powerful thunderstorms passing through Greenwich about 7:15 p.m., "When somebody tells us DOT and Metro-North want to rebuild bridges, it will affect their homes and places of business." Rafferty said, "This is why we’re here. We’ve been active with town’s engineering department, and in Hartford…DOT has been doing a good job and very cognizant of what the needs are and what it means to this community."

The plan is to simulataneously rebuild the rail bridges that span Sound Beach and Tomac Avenues. Walko and Rafferty said the plans include an exchange of land between the Town of Greenwich and Metro-North which ultimately mean the addition of at least 50 parking spaces at the Old Greenwich train station.

The plan will include:

  • Elimination of the center support post, allowing creation of a turning lane into the station parking lot and the municipal lot behind Kings Foods Market.
  • An exchange of land from the Town of Greenwich to Metro-North, creating between 50 to 100 additional parking spaces for commuters and local merchants. The exact number will be determined by the state and the town which will decide on the size of the spaces, Walko said.
  • The extension of the train platform, which will accommodate 10-car trains as opposed to six-car trains now.
  • The construction of concrete slab walls leading to the station parking on Sound Beach that will have the appearance of blocked stone, similar to the Arch Street bridge near Binney Park.

Rafferty also told residents bridge project officials have assured him that the construction schedule will be designed to ensure that one of the roadways always will be open to traffic. State officials estimate 14,000 vehicle drive beneath the Sound Beach Avenue bridge daily, according to Rafferty.

The height of the bridge will not be increased, according to Rafferty.


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