Danco bridge work
is in high gear
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The Danco Drive bridge replacement project is finally moving along after about 60 days of delay waiting for utilities to be moved.
NJR Construction General Contractors of Torrington is now going full throttle once Eversource completed its work. The town had already done some tree work and other work around the bridge site, according to Highway Superintendent Travis Sirrine.
One lane of the bridge pavement is still in place while work is underway.
Elaine Sistare, town administrator, said plans call for two large precast culverts to be installed to allow the water to flow through. Each culvert is 10 feet tall and 14 feet wide Culverts that large — more than 5 or 6 feet — are no longer culverts but “bridges,” she said. The original water and sewer pipes are now exposed. They are large because originally they were to connect across the highway.
She said those pipes will end up between the “culverts” and the pavement. The new bridge will be two lanes again.
Three years ago Sirrine said the bridge has been in a slow deterioration for quite some time. An inspection found that it was “in worse condition than we knew” and weight and speed limits were put on the bridge while the process of getting it replaced started. The bridge was built around 1950.
The town had hired CDM Smith to do the inspection because the bridge was 19 feet, 6 inches long.
The state had changed it rules and any bridge shorter than 20 feet had to be inspected by the town.
The state was no longer inspecting any bridge shorter than 20 feet.
Sistare said the new bridge is longer than 20 feet and will go back on the state’s “rolls.”
The approximate cost for the bridge replacement is $2.6 million.
She said 50 percent of it is handled by the state and the other 50 percent is covered by the town. The grant was approved a couple years ago and the town has been adding to the capital projects budget to cover the town’s half.
As for when it’s finished, Sistare has her fingers crossed.
The town lost 60 days waiting for utility work and it has rained a bit. If the rains stay away from construction days and if the asphalt plants are still open in mid-November “we have a shot” of the bridge being finished, she said.
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captions, page 5:
On the left side, pipes are supported while the bridge is being built
Corralling water on the right side of the bridge. More photos Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.
Rebar is ready
caption, page 7:
The pipes are supported for now. When the bridge work is further along the pipes will be encased between the pavement and the bridge culverts. Linda Lemmon photo.
Concert - River Fire
Clockwise from upper left:
Part of the horn section of Chicago Total Access
Rose St. Jean of Webster was looking pretty cool in her Spicer Propane & Oil shades.
Mayor Barney Seney and Sara Seney
Up close and personal River Fire from the bridge.
Left: The band got a little musical help from a young lady celebrating her birthday. Expanded photo array on Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.
Rotary Park was packed. It was a gorgeous night.
Recreation Department Director Jimmy Callahan, left, and crew member Gene Palazzo double check the 19 fire pots.
Enjoying the season's first River Fire
Linda Lemmon photos
Pomfret project
awarded grant
HARTFORD — The Wyndham Land Trust Inc. (WLT) was awarded more than $600,000 to purchase a forested tract in the Nightingale Forest.
The Wyndham Land Trust Inc. will receive a grant of $633,100 to by the Abbott Property. It includes 380 acres.
The land trust said: “This forested tract is adjacent to roughly 1,200 acres of WLT conservation land and is part of the Nightingale Forest, a core forest large enough to support species that need forested areas to successfully thrive. Species of birds like black-throated blue warbler, broad-winged hawk, and scarlet tanagers breed here. It contains over 2,900 feet of frontage on both sides of Nightingale Brook and over 3,400 feet of frontage on both sides of Angel Brook.
“With this acquisition, WLT will own about 75 percent of the frontage on Nightingale Brook. The entire property has been identified as having high resilience to climate change. The public will have access to new hiking trails in the forest, connected to trails on the adjacent 365-acre WLT Townshend Preserve, with an existing parking area on Quarry Road in Woodstock. This property has been identified as highest importance for protection by the Town of Pomfret and WLT for years.”
The state awarded $14.3 million statewide to help purchase and protect more than 2,270 acres of open space through 25 properties in 22 towns.
In addition, according to Governor Ned Lamont, $725,353 is being awarded to support the creation of six new community green spaces.
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2 free concerts AND River Fire on Aug. 9
PUTNAM — The Town of Putnam is jazzed to bring back “Ed Peabody & The Big Blue Thang” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Rotary Park bandstand.
In addition to Ed Peabody the Connecticut Army National Guard 102d Army Band will return to the stage and kick off the event at 4:30. They gained popularity in the area with their show in the park last August and are happy to be back!
After the Army Ed Peabody and his Big Blue Thang will then take stage and put on a performance that will keep you wanting more!
The 102d Army Band Jazz Combo and Brass Band starts at 4:30 p.m. then Peabody takes over at 6:30 and doesn’t stop until 8.
But wait! Just when you think two band concerts are fun enough — River Fire starts at 8 p.m. and stays lighted for 90 minutes or so. River Fire music will be provided by WINY Radio.
This event is powered by Centreville Bank, Spicer Propane & Oil, and WIN Waste Innovations.
Event partners include, in addition to WINY Radio, Spicer Propane and the Town of Putnam Public Works and Parks & Recreation departments.
Remember to bring a lawn chair or blanket!
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