What's Happening in Hartford, CT…

The most expensive, and largest, project of its type in the history of Connecticut is now underway.

The Metropolitan District of Hartford (MDC) is currently building a 4.1-mile tunnel beneath the city that will hold sewage and stormwaters, and prevent them from entering the Connecticut River after severe storms. The tunnel will hold as many as 41.5 million gallons of water, and contain it until the MDC's sewage treatment plant can clean it. The tunnel is 200 feet beneath Hartford, and bores through solid rock.

Climate scientists say big storms are becoming more intense and more frequent, and during such events, Hartford's sewer system and drains are overwhelmed, dumping contaminated water straight into streams and then into the river. When the pollution reaches Long Island Sound, it causes algae “blooms” that create “dead zones” without oxygen. In addition, bacteria that spills into the sound with the untreated sewage often forces beaches to close.

There has been some surprise at the fact the tunnel starts near the sewage plant on Brainard Road, which is near I-91. However, the director of engineering for MDC, Susan Negrelli, said the tunnel far enough beneath street level that residents will not feel or hear the construction operations, adding contractors will be monitoring the project to make certain no vibration or noise can be heard above ground.

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