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Warren to seek bids for Market Street tide gates to reduce flooding
Summary
Council authorized staff to solicit bids for underground tide gates on Market Street designed to check tidal backflow and help mitigate recurring flooding; members requested a technical presentation from the engineering firm before full contract award.
The Warren Town Council voted to authorize solicitation of bids for the installation of underground tide gates near Market Street and Redmond Street to reduce backflow and mitigate periodic flooding.
Town planner Herb Durfee explained the gates function like check valves — permitting outflow but limiting inflow during storm surge — and that the town has a state grant plus an ARPA match to cover the work. Members raised concerns that installing gates in one location can change upstream or downstream flow patterns; several councilors asked the town engineer (Bussen & O'Neil) to present analysis showing expected benefits and any displacement effects.
Durfee said approvals and right‑of‑way coordination had been done in prior years and that final bid documents would be prepared with the town engineer. Councilors authorized work to go out to bid and asked for an engineering presentation at a future meeting to address neighborhood concerns about redirected flows.
