MERIDEN — One of three bridges under reconstruction as part of the Harbor Brook master plan to eliminate serious flooding in the downtown area opened Monday, while another is close to completion. The one that opened is one of the two bridges at the Hanover Towers complex on Butler Street. According to Meriden City Engineer Brian Ennis, the parking lots around the towers flood frequently. Part of the reconstruction of the bridges involves raising the structures above base flood level elevation, according to an environmental assessment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The goal is to dry out Hanover Street by the police station and Banana Brazil restaurant, Ennis said. Prep work on the Grove Street bridge on the property began Monday. Ennis expects it will be blocked off to traffic Friday or early next week. “We couldn’t demolish them both at the same time because people still have got to get in and out. We filtered all the traffic down Grove Street while we did the Butler Street bridge. Now we’re going to move all the traffic over to Butler while we do the Grove Street bridge,” he explained. That phase of the project costs $14.9 million, Ennis said. The city received a FEMA grant for $11.3 million for 75% of the project, and the city is responsible for the remaining 25%, or $3.6 million, he added.
Meriden nearing final stages of $22M bridge reconstruction project in 100-year floodplain
