Board approves temporary westbound closure on Old Post Road for two-week drainage work starting as soon as Oct. 5

Project staff described a three-phase drainage-improvement project aimed at stopping chronic flooding that has affected about six houses off Valley Road for more than a decade. Phase 1 calls for installing a large elliptical manhole (about 20 feet deep with a 4-foot sump) to intercept runoff before it reaches a Connecticut DOT structure under Route 1.

“...The total project will take about 2 months,” the presenter said, describing a two-week window for the section requiring a westbound closure to place a crane and excavate near the intersection. She said the contractor and town police traffic section coordinated logistics and that businesses would retain access via a rear driveway during the work.

To maintain traffic and safety, staff said the eastbound lane will remain open and detour signage will route local drivers to Fields Road and Valley Road; the board waived a second read given the storm season and approved the temporary closure with a unanimous voice confirmation.

Why it matters: the work addresses a long-standing localized flooding problem for several households and requires temporary traffic adjustments near a busy corridor; start date was requested as soon as Oct. 5 to avoid weather-related delays.