Bridgeport’s Congress Street power substation can now remain operational during heavy storms thanks to a new flood protection system completed this week. United Illuminating, which operates the facility, invested $55 million to build a wall to protect the substation from flooding from the nearby Pequonnock River, a gate system to seal the perimeter and two high-power pumps. The concrete wall is 10 feet high and drives 40 feet underground, according to the utility company. “These substations are designed with lifespans of 50 to 60 years, so we need to figure in sea level rise,” he said. “By 2050, we will not only have the normal high tide, but it will be 20 inches higher.” Berman explained that the site’s geology — being a salt marsh — complicated the construction of the foundations. Additionally, building the heavy gates and calculating the wall’s tolerance to bending under the pressure of rising water contributed to the challenge. Berman also highlighted the pumping system, which can clear rainwater collected inside the walls during a storm in just minutes.
