Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Flood Mitigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
First Selectman says federal, state and local partners are advancing $35—40M Byron River bridge replacements to reduce flooding
Summary
The First Selectman described coordination with Congressman Himes, the Army Corps and New York officials on a $35—40 million Byron River bridge replacement project intended to improve flow, reduce recurring flooding and preserve historic bridge character.
The First Selectman said the town is engaged with federal, state and regional partners on two bridge replacements on the Byron River intended to reduce chronic flooding. He estimated the project at roughly $35—40 million and said meetings have included Congressman Jim Himes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York State officials.
The project would raise and widen the bridge to improve water flow and mitigate flooding in downstream neighborhoods, while attempting to retain the historic appearance of the structure. "Originally, they were saying it was about a five-and-a-half-year project. We've gotten them down a little bit on that," the First Selectman said, noting ongoing multi-jurisdictional coordination that affects schedule and scope.
Why it matters: the Byron River has caused repeated flooding in the area since the 1950s, and the town described the bridge work as a major, multiyear investment to reduce flood risk and protect property. The First Selectman referenced past storms and longstanding flooding in the corridor and said the town is pushing to accelerate work where possible.
Funding and process: the speaker framed the project as a federal-state-local collaboration and said the town is pursuing Army Corps engagement and New York coordination due to cross-border jurisdictional issues. He did not specify final funding shares or a contract award schedule.
Quotes: "We're pushing still, but there's a lot of jurisdiction here that we have to deal with," the First Selectman said of the Byron River project. "They're going to push the bridge up a little bit and widen it to allow for greater flow of water to come through, which will help with flooding in other areas of the Byron River."
Next steps: the town continues discussions with federal and state partners and has not yet finalized timelines or funding shares in the presentation excerpt. Additional public updates and design milestones are expected as agencies complete engineering and environmental reviews.
