The Town of Fairfield has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to reduce flooding along the Rooster River. $8.2 million has been allocated to fund flood mitigation projects in the Rooster River corridor, and the first two phases are now beginning at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course and Tunxis Hill Park.
Grasso Construction began work on September 28 on the detention basin site located at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course. This project is being built in coordination with and with financial support from the City of Bridgeport. Additional funds are supplied by Urban Act and Clean Water Act grants and Town of Fairfield bonding. The current construction schedule anticipates that the detention basins will be substantially complete with some functional flood mitigation by year end, with final completion expected by spring 2027. However, this project is highly weather dependent and cold weather could affect target dates.
Surveyors are beginning construction staking at the second basin location at Tunxis Hill Park. In addition to being awarded the bid for the Fairchild Wheeler Project, Grasso Construction had been also been awarded the bid for the Tunxis Hill Park project, but has requested to withdraw that bid. The Board of Selectpersons will be holding a special meeting on October 1 to approve awarding the Tunxis Hill project to the next highest bidder, Priority Construction.
The two detention basin projects represent a major step forward in a comprehensive flood-mitigation strategy throughout the Rooster River watershed in Fairfield.
The Town retained SLR Consulting to design and engineer both projects. Built within the boundaries of the river, the multi-stage weirs, or control structures, are designed to hold back the rate of stormwater runoff and release it downstream at a slower pace.
“Mitigating flooding along the Rooster River has been priority for Fairfield. After years of planning and permitting, it is exciting to see that construction crews are in place and the work is beginning.” said First Selectperson Christine Vitale. “As we continue to see more unpredictable weather and intense rain events we need to be proactive in planning for the future. I spent a lot of time in those neighborhoods that were most severely impacted by the September 13 storm. I understand the frustration and anxiety of our residents and hope that seeing that work is beginning will provide some comfort that plans are now being put into action.”
A third phase in flood resiliency is a plan to remove sediment from the river. Preliminary testing and survey work for river sediment dredging have been completed, with final design and permitting as next steps. Easements from property owners along the river are required to proceed, as the Rooster River is not a Town of Fairfield-owned property, but requires dealing with private property ownership rights, City of Bridgeport and State of Connecticut properties. Work on the third phase is expected to take place over the next two years, as CT DEEP and the Army Corps of Engineers must review plans and provide permits before any work can begin. The Town’s goal is to reduce flood risk by addressing multiple points of flood resiliency throughout the Rooster River watershed.
