Gov. M. Jodi Rell today announced that $3 million for the repair and refurbishment of the levee protecting East Hartford from Connecticut River flooding is expected to be approved when the State Bond Commission meets April 24.
“This levee protects East Hartford and our capital city as well as area businesses and residents,” Rell said. “The East Hartford levee has been in poor condition for years, and these additional improvements will bring the levee up to a high safety level. Equally as important is that while creating a higher level of safety, these improvements will also create jobs.”
East Hartford has conducted the planning and engineering necessary to begin construction by this summer in order to meet the FEMA deadline of February 2010.
If the levee is not repaired before then, approximately 1,000 businesses and residences surrounding the levee will be placed in a high risk flood zone, thereby requiring those property owners to get flood insurance, she said. By meeting federal standards, the levee system will achieve accredited status and allow the nearly 1,000 parcels of land adjacent to the levees to remain off the 100-year flood hazard zone.
East Hartford’s levee system is connected to Hartford’s system. In December, Rell announced the approval of $5 million for improvements and repairs to the Hartford’s flood control system.
Last August, $4 million to study and make repairs to the East Hartford levee was approved. Although the system has performed admirably, its current age warrants a significant capital investment in order to maintain its integrity.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the levee system along the Connecticut River in the 1940s. Once the system was completed, the Army Corps turned over the long-term care and maintenance of the levees to East Hartford and Hartford.
Reader response:
“Thank you Governor Rell and the State of Connecticut! Now I can only hope the Bond Commission agrees.” — Melody A. Currey, Mayor of East Hartford Â
