Fall has asserted itself with the season’s first frost and the race is on to close up construction projects around town. First Selectman Henry Tirrell told his board during its meeting Wednesday that the roof on the new firehouse is being finished up and the building is being sealed.
“The building is watertight in the back, so they are taking the [construction office] trailer off site,” he told the board. The workers hope to have the entire building sealed by the end of the month and electricity installed so work can continue inside as the season gets colder. The goal still is to move the fire apparatus into the structure in January.
On Mountain Road, Aquarion will finish running the water main alongside the bridge currently being replaced near the Westside Road intersection, clearing the way for construction crews to complete their work to reopen the span.
Tirrell affirmed that the work is supposed to be finished in a couple of weeks, before asphalt plants begin to shut down for the winter.
Farther west on Mountain Road is a culvert that collapsed and has been temporarily covered by steel plates. Tirrell said he has been working with state officials and the Army Corps of Engineers to see if he can temporarily repair the span so the road can remain open this winter. If not, traffic will have to detour around that section of road via Sunset Ridge.
Tirrell is seeking a state grant for a permanent repair next summer.
The issue of paving is putting pressure on construction of the new retaining wall on Route 44 as well, as crews work to reopen two lanes of traffic for the winter months. Tirrell announced that the 24-hour-a-day flaggers will disappear this week and that the temporary traffic lights will return.
Finishing work on the wall and adjacent road will continue in the spring.