Scour – scourge of local bridges
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Starting next month four bridges in need will get attention. Most are “afflicted” with scour.
Scour is the erosion of soil around a bridge’s foundation — piers and abutments — caused by fast-moving water. Most of the small bridges in the Quiet Corner have this problem, including Pomfret. It’s often repaired but pops up again, requiring more expensive attention.
First on the list, starting in April, is the bridge on Danco Road. Elaine Sistare, town administrator, said the construction will begin as soon as April and they hope to be finished by late fall. This bridge has a problem with age and beam deterioration, Sistare said. The cost will be covered 50/50 by the federal/state and the town. Danco Road is a dead end. There will be one lane available during construction.
Two bridges in East Putnam are next up. The bridge on East Putnam Road going over Cady Brook (near the intersection with Five Mile River Road) will be replaced, with construction starting by 2028. Sistare said the state DOT has accepted this project into its federal local bridge program. One-hundred percent of the cost will be covered, with the federal funds being funneled through the state.
A couple years ago problems with this bridge, which included scour, were addressed. Sistare said the scouring problem is back again and called it critical. She said the state has moved forward already with the design and permitting. She added that the Army Corps of Engineers will also be permitting it; hopefully, it’s a simple enough project that the corps simpler, less time consuming, permitting can be used.
Last week Mayor Barney Seney announced this project in a press release. He said the town is “contemplating a project to replace the East Putnam Road Bridge over Cady Brook. The bridge replacement project would receive federal funds under the Federal Local Bridge Program administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Local and state policy encourages early information to citizens on such projects and encourages people to raise any concerns with municipal officials early in the planning process. Persons wanting additional information should contact Town Administrator Elaine Sistare at 860-963-6800, ext113.
Next, further down the road, is the bridge on Chase Road crossing over Cady Brook (close to the intersection of Chase Road and Cady Road – the farthest away from the golf course). The cause for replacement of this bridge is also laid at the feet of scour, also in a critical stage. Sistare said this bridge project has also been accepted into the state DOT’s 100 percent cost coverage program. Like the East Putnam Road/Cady Brook bridge, it is also in the state’s design and permitting phase.
Sistare said each of these bridge projects will cost between $3 million and $3.5 million. Both replacement projects will require detours.
The replacement of the bridge on Mary Brown Brook, on East Putnam Road, has been “on the town’s radar for a long time,” Sistare said. She said it is not eligible for the 100 percent covered program. It’s 50/50. She said they are working with the state DOT. Options for repair include “structural improvement,” such as strengthening the structure with a solid liner. A decision on the options is probably a few months away.
caption, page 1:
One of Many
Many bridges in northeastern Connecticut are afflicted with scour. Here and at the top of the page is the Chase Road Bridge over Cady Brook in Putnam --- one of many that will have to be repaired/replaced. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo.
Captions, page 4:
East Putnam Road - Mary Brown Brook Bridge.
The Danco Road bridge. Putnam Town Crier file photo, 2022.
Hometown Heroes of WWII
Sergeant Francis Chenette, U.S. Army
By Michael Rocchetti
Just north of a small town in France called Corny-sur-Moselle, there is a stone monument in a park along the Moselle River that commemorates the soldiers of the 5th Infantry Division who were killed in action crossing the river here during WWII. The monument is inscribed with the image of U.S. Army soldiers, about 10 of them, paddling an assault boat across the river while artillery shells splash all around them. The inscription says: “They Gave Their Tomorrow to Give Us Our Today”.
On the 8th and 9th of September 1944, elements of the U.S. Army 5th Infantry Division crossed the Moselle River here in the vicinity of Dornot, SW of Metz France. The 150th Engineer Combat Battalion (from Fort Devens, Mass.) was tasked with supporting the crossing. Company C moved assault boats to the water’s edge, but poor cover on the near shore drew enemy artillery and small arms fire every step of the way. The operation of ferrying troops to far shore and casualties to near shore continued all night under intense mortar, artillery and small arms fire. Company C had 3 killed and 12 wounded in action during this river crossing, including the Company Commander when their command post received a direct artillery hit.
Francis Chenette was seriously wounded during this operation on September 9th, and would later die of his wounds at a field hospital in France on October 12th 1944.
Technician Fourth Grade (T/4) Francis Chenette was born Jan. 29, 1924, in Worcester Mass., the son of Joseph Chenette and Delia Previe. He grew up in Putnam. He was drafted in 1943 and was a combat engineer assigned to Company C, 150th Engineer Combat Battalion from Fort Devens. He was single, but was engaged to Miss Rita Duclos of Putnam. In addition to his parents, he was survived by three brothers
and five sisters. He is buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam, CT.
Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.
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PSA claims 5th National title
W. HARTFORD — All is right once again in the prep school basketball world.
After losing in the championship game last year, Putnam Science Academy returned to the top of the mountain Thursday night and claimed its fifth national prep school title, defeating in-state foe St. Thomas More, 79-72.
Senior Ben Ahmed led the Mustangs with 20 points and five rebounds on his way to being named tournament MVP. He was a starter on last year’s team, as well as the 2022-23 team that won it all.
“This means a lot to me,” he said. “I couldn’t go out like that. I know what it feels like to lose and I didn’t want my teammates to go through that too. I know winning feels so much better.”
Ahmed, who is headed to Oklahoma State next year, leaves behind a legacy as one of PSA’s all-time greatest players. In addition to being a two-time champion, the Nigerian native – who hasn’t seen his parents in three years – is also PSA’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and its single-season record-holder in both categories. No one has played (128) or started (117) more games than him either.
“I can say that besides all his record-breaking stats and points and rebounding, Ben is a great friend, like a brother to me,” said point guard Tony Williams, who was the only other member of this year’s team left over from last year. “Ben always picked up the next man and helped them when no one was looking, so that means a lot. The legacy he brought to this school and program…he’s one of a kind.”
PSA won its final 33 games and finished with a school-record 41 wins against just two losses, which came on consecutive days way back in mid-November. The Mustangs dominated their opponents all season, with an average margin of victory of nearly 27 points, but they found themselves in unfamiliar territory against St. Thomas More. PSA faced its biggest deficit of the year, trailing by nine points about midway through the first half. The Mustangs fought back, however, and took a one-point lead into the break.
“As long as we stuck together and stayed composed, it was ours,” said Williams, who is headed to Fairfield next year. “Down 15 or up 15, the game wasn’t over. Being down in the first couple minutes like we’ve never been struck us a little bit, but I knew in my gut that we weren’t going to quit.”
The second half was just as tight and tense as PSA could never put it out of reach, but a big bucket and clutch free throws from Ahmed, plus an offensive rebound putback from Brayson Green in the final minutes sealed the win.
“It wasn’t a fun game for me,” coach Tom Espinosa said after with a laugh. “It was stressful. We never got a comfortable lead, which we’re not used to. The kids have stepped up all year though and gotten the job done. Our experience was Ben Ahmed and Tony Williams, and they led us. I’m so happy for the kids because it’s a memory they’ll have forever. They’ll be linked together forever.”
“But it’s stressful, it really is. As a school, we have a lot of pressure to win it because we’ve done it before, and we make no secret about it being our goal every year. It’s a lot of pressure to have to show up every day. We have a target on our backs, everyone is coming after us.”
Williams finished the game with 11 points, Parrish Edmond and Abdou Yadd both had 10, while Green added six points and six rebounds, and Adama Tambedou chipped in five points and eight boards.
The Mustangs should have a great chance to repeat next year as six of their top 10 rotation players – Green, Edmond, Tambedou, Warren Keel, Jaeden Roberts, and Jamell Hatchett – are expected to return.
PSA advanced to the title game by beating Vermont Academy 82-72 in the semifinals earlier the same day, led by Green (14 points, four rebounds) and Yadd (13 points, four rebounds).
The Mustangs used a balanced attack to beat Hargrave Military Academy 86-59 in the first round. Yadd led the way with 11 points and three rebounds, while Ahmed added 10 points and five boards. Green (nine points, eight rebounds), Williams (eight points, three assists), Tambedou (seven points, seven rebounds), and Sam Osayi (eight boards) all played well.
It was more of the same in the quarterfinals, a 90-46 thrashing of Massanutten. Green had 12 points and eight rebounds (seven offensive), Edmond had 12 points and four boards, while Ahmed finished with 11 points, and Williams and Yadd chipped in 10 apiece.
Editor’s note: We will post an extensive gallery of tournament photos Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
March 5
Jordan Taylor Gannon, Walnut Street, Wauregan; first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, false statement, second-degree breach of peace, creating a public disturbance, third-degree assault.
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