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Chester agency reviews proposal to reline David Road culverts; DEEP recommends full rebuild
Summary
Engineers presented a STEAP-funded plan to extend the life of twin corrugated culverts on David Road using cured-in-place fiberglass liners; the state fisheries division recommended full replacement to allow fish passage, which would substantially increase cost. The agency will consider the matter further pending DEEP feedback.
The Town of Chester Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency on June 1 reviewed an engineer’s application to rehabilitate bridge #26002 on David Road, a structure formed by twin 6-foot corrugated metal culverts carrying Pattaconk Brook. Howard Pfromer of Jacobson & Associates said the barrels show laminar rust and significant section loss and that the stone masonry headwalls are deteriorated.
Pfromer described a plan to install 0.5-inch cured-in-place fiberglass liners inside the existing culvert barrels, replace the roadside barriers with R‑B MASH metal beam railing, construct a concrete end wall at the upstream outlet and add intermediate riprap to address scour. Construction controls would include cofferdams so one barrel can be lined at a time, dewatering bags on pump discharge to trap silt, and keeping one traffic lane open. Projected duration is about one month during the low-flow window in summer 2027, the engineer said.
The project is funded through a STEAP grant, Pfromer told the Agency, and the bridge provides sole access to 16 homes and the DEEP Cedar Lake boat launch. Agency members noted those access and resource considerations.
The DEEP Fishery Division recommended rebuilding the structure entirely to allow fish passage during low-water conditions rather than relining the existing culverts. Agency members and the First Selectwoman have contacted DEEP and are awaiting a response; the Agency did not take a final action and will discuss the application at a future meeting.
Mr. Pfromer answered members’ questions about methods and sequencing, and confirmed Public Works has already removed trees and brush from the area ahead of design work. The Agency asked for the DEEP response and additional details before making a determination.
