Residents Advocate for Approval Tonight of $4 Million Upgrades to Stop Flooding

Residents of the Allen Street, Roxbury Road and CCSU area say they are pressing for Council members to approve $4 million in sewer and drainage improvements proposed by two Council members to address flooding they have experienced at the Council meeting tonight.

Ald. Luz Ortiz-Luna (R-AL) and Ald. Desiree Costa (R-AL) introduced the proposal to provide funding for the city Public Works Department, “to begin the Allen Street Drainage Improvements Project,” in an effort to address the flooding experienced by residents in a neighborhood to the southwest of CCSU, including Newbury, Hampton, Allen, Brighton streets and Eton Place and Roxbury Road.

The proposal says that, “funding for this work is available in the ‘Rainy Day’ account through the City of New Britain.”

Residents John McNamara and Frank Chase say that the funding is needed, “to modernize sewer mains and pipes. Deteriorated pipes and mains result in flooding and property damage on five streets including Allen, Brighton, Hampton, Newbery and Wellington Streets and Roxbury Road when there are heavy rains.”

Area residents add that,

Flooding has occurred five times in the area since July that city officials attribute to climate change. The infrastructure project has been postponed for the last six fiscal years. The two Republican Alderwomen introduced the resolution after residents gave an hour of testimony about the impact to their homes and streets at the September 13th Council meeting. Residents are also seeking information on the balance of $56 million American Rescue Plan funds to address critical infrastructure needs in the city.

Both Ald. Ortiz-Luna and McNamara are candidates to represent Ward 4 in this year’s elections, Ortiz-Luna as an independent and McNamara as a Democrat.

At the September 13th Council meeting, area residents spoke about incurring thousands of dollars on flood damage repairs, water pump and drain improvements and insurance paid by residents because of flooding.

Residents described streets with water deep enough to float boats and basements filling with water. One resident described a new water pump that burned out from the intensity of the flooding, spilling water into children’s bedrooms.

Residents discussed rain as well as sewerage flooding into their basements, and some residents talked about insects appearing in their homes, which they attributed to the poor drainage. A number of residents at the meeting were clearly emotional, as they pleaded for quick action to address the problems.

A number of residents said that “shiny” taxpayer-funded construction, like the Beehive Bridge on Main Street, are nice, but that they felt that basic infrastructure improvements, like drainage in their neighborhoods, has been made a lower priority to those projects.

Editor’s note: John McNamara is also a contributing writer with the New Britain Progressive.

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