$4M roadwork project to begin

Utility to gauge interest in gas line

CROMWELL >> With the signing of a contract Thursday, the way has been cleared for construction to begin on the long-delayed improvements to the drainage and road system in the Raymond Place neighborhood.

The contract was signed Thursday morning by the town and by the approved contractor, DeRita & Sons Construction Co. of Middletown.

Town Engineer Jon Harriman said the required notice to proceed could be issued by his PROJECT >> PAGE 2

office as soon as Sept. 6.

The $4.123 million project will involve replacement of an inadequate drainage system, the replacement of the existing water mains and the reconstruction of the roads in the neighborhood. The project, which will involve both the town and the water division of the Cromwell Fire District, is being paid for in part by funds from a bond issue that was approved by residents at a June 8 town meeting.

The work will include repairs to all or portions of 10 roads: Sunset Drive, Grove Road, Goodrich Avenue, Freestone Avenue, Jewell Avenue, West Tract Road, Raymond Place, Botelle Manor, Mann Memorial Drive and Herbert Porter Drive. In addition, a detention pond will be built in Watrous Park.

A total of 14 companies submitted bids for the project, Harriman said.

“I was pleased with the number,” Harriman said.

“It was a good turnout,” Director of Public Works Louis J. Spina said, agreeing with Harriman.

The bids were reviewed by Harriman and by a consulting engineer who will help oversee the project.

“He checked the references and I personally reached out to some of the people who were used as references,” he said.

DeRita was the low bidder, he added. Their $4.123 million bid was below the projected cost, he added. The contract calls for the work to be completed in 420 days, Spina said. However, that schedule could be adjusted as Eversource gauges the interest from a number of residents who would like a gas main installed in the neighborhood.

When residents — predominantly from the affected neighborhood — turned out for the town meeting in June, “a few residents did come up and ask us” if a gas line could be extended into the neighborhood, Mayor Enzo Faienza said.

“I said if enough residents want to participate in that, then we should jump on it,” he said Thursday.

Spina and Town Manager Anthony J. Salvatore then reached out to Eversource, Faienza said. After some discussions, the utility said it would see how much interest there is in installing the gas line.

The town will hold an informational meeting on Sept. 12 in the Town Hall Arch Room on the gas issue. Eversource “has reached out to the residents in an effort to try and gauge their interest” in having gas brought into the neighborhood, Harriman said.

The utility sent letters to the residents about the issue.

The meeting — which will begin at 7:30 p.m. — will allow the company to determine the extent of the interest and allow residents to question the utility about what would be involved if gas does come to the neighborhood.

“The more public services we can get for our residents the better,” Faienza said. “This is a wonderful opportunity. I’d like to see it happen if we can.”