Major Water Main Repair Work Planned For Greenwich Avenue

GREENWICH, CT — Aquarion Water Company is planning critical water main replacement work for Greenwich Avenue, which is anticipated to begin this spring and end in spring 2024.

Don Snyder and Ken Petrini of Snyder Civil Engineering, the contractor for the project, appeared before the Board of Selectmen Thursday to detail the construction work and ask for the implementation of a detour and needed road closures.

Work will roll down a little over a quarter-mile stretch on Greenwich Avenue from Elm Street to Grigg Street. Generally, the proposed work will take up one of the two lanes on Greenwich Avenue during construction.

"We're asking for the ability to have intermittent road closures over the course of the next year," Snyder said. "We're not looking to close the road every day for the next year, but throughout the course of work, maybe a day a week, a couple days a month, as needed."

Due to the complexity of the project and because Greenwich Avenue is one of the most heavily-trafficked corridors in town with limited parking, a lot of the construction work is proposed for nighttime, with the majority occurring between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

By the morning commute, the road will be reopened every day, Snyder and Petrini said.

Snyder Civil Engineering has started conversations with the town's Parking Services Department. Snyder said small areas of parking spaces will be taken up as work moves along.

Selectperson Lauren Rabin said the construction work might be more disruptive than the road closure. She asked about impacts to outdoor dining, and also those who live in apartments down Greenwich Avenue.

"Think of it as a rolling stage, if you will. The entire duration of the project travels along as it goes. Although someone may be impacted for a week's time, after a week or two's time, that will be moved on down the road to others," Snyder added.

Janet Stone McGuigan had concerns about giving residents notice about closures.

Snyder said there will be a senior inspector responsible for coordinating community outreach on behalf of Aquarion.

In addition to that, Snyder Civil will provide notification to the town weekly, and have "boots on the ground" where an inspector on the job site is available to field questions from residents and make accommodations.

The board did not take any action and will instead allow for two weeks to gather public comment.

"We know this has to be done," First Selectman Fred Camillo said. "We'll certainly work with you to make this as painless as possible for people."