SUNNYSIDE AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

The project begins East of Falls Avenue and extends southeast to the Waterbury City  line. Areas in red

show limits of  Reconstuction. 

Sunnyside Avenue update -This is a major road reconstruction project extending from Falls Avenue to the Waterbury City line. The limits of construction are shown in red above. The project has the following four major objectives; 1. Upgrade inadequate drainage systems, 2.Widen the road to provide for a uniform pavement width, 3. Provide for improved horizontal geometry, and 4. Repave all areas except the recent pavement performed by the Meadowcrest Subdivision.

The drainage upgrades include from the drainage system from the Meadowcrest connection down to Falls Avenue, the Turkey Brook culvert, and the system from Hill Top Road to the Waterbury city line. A change order has been issued to Lenard Engineers (who is completing the design of the Turkey Brook structure under Sunnyside Avenue) to design the storm drainage system for the roadway improvements. A draft storm drainage report has been received and is under review. It is anticipated that a semi-final design submission will be made to the DOT by September of this year.

History

· This project is being proposed under the Surface Transportation Program-Urban Systems. The project began in the mid-nineties with the support of the Council of Governments and the State Department of Transportation. The project is funded 80% federal and 20% State. The Town of Watertown is providing the necessary engineering services to design the project.

· A Public Information Meeting was conducted on December 18, 1996 to discuss the project concept. All abutting property owners were notified of the meeting and notices were placed in the newspapers. Eight residents attended and following an overview presentation by the Director of Public Works there were no significant objections.

· The Town Council passed a Resolution at the April 7, 1997 meeting expressing support of the project

· Preliminary design was submitted to the Department of Transportation in May of 1999.

· A Public Informational Meeting was held on September 7, 2000. Twenty-four residents attended the meeting. There were some questions and concerns regarding the taking of property temporarily for construction as well as permanently, and concerns regarding the speed of vehicles on the street. There were various other construction related issues discussed but no major opposition.

· In an October 19, 2000 letter from the Town Manager to the Department of Transportation continued support was expressed for the project.

· At this time there are several activities on-going to bring this project to completion. A consultant Engineering Firm has been hired to evaluate the type of structure most appropriate to replace the Turkey Brook Culvert under Sunnyside Avenue. An Environmental Firm is undertaking two subsurface site investigation and one preliminary environmental site assement as to determine if there are any potential contamination sites in the project area. The street storm water design will be undertaken by the Town's Engineering Department in the near future.

The preliminary project plans and completed enviromental reports are availble for review at Public Works Department or contact the Town Engineer Chuck Berger @ 860 -945-5240