Watertown awards Steel Brook Greenway contract; Waterbury and Kenny Town dam updates reported

Jerry Lukowski (Watertown director of public works) told the committee Watertown awarded the Steel Brook Greenway contract to the low bidder at approximately $1.9 million, held a pre-construction meeting, and plans to begin construction this spring. He said the town needs to remove trees before bat season begins on April 15 and that the project includes a flashing beacon at French Street and a pedestrian bridge; he expects trail traffic to increase once the section opens.

On Waterbury, presenters said a recent agreement with DOT to handle rights-of-way for trail acquisitions addressed a major delay and that survey and design work is progressing. NVCOG staff noted the city remains concerned about construction funding but is proceeding with design and right-of-way tasks.

On the Kenny Town dam-removal project, Aaron Wooders reported that GEI (the design consultant, as referenced in the meeting) has mostly completed data collection, EPA is wrapping up an environmental assessment, and trail design has paused until dam-removal alternatives and options for handling sediment are decided. He said roughly $52 million is currently committed to the dam removal, the prior state budget included $25 million in bond funds to start the work, and that sediment management is the largest remaining cost driver: "We know that there is, you know, about 800,000 cubic yards of variably contaminated sediment behind the dam that has to be dealt with safely," he said.

No final construction schedule was set in the meeting for these items; members were directed to coordinate on design, permitting and funding steps as project-specific details evolve.