Residents of Essex gathered on Sept. 7 for a public hearing about the impacts of the Ivory Street reconstruction, which is now underway and scheduled to run through Nov. 18.

Reconstruction began on Sept. 7 and includes works to the streets, bridges, and sidewalks.

“We wanted to offer one more opportunity to talk to the neighbors about traffic and any concerns,” said First Selectman Norm Needleman. “It was more of an informational session to let people know what’s happening.”

Doane Engineering has prepared plans for the reconstruction to the Town of Essex. Representatives from 16 companies attended the mandatory site walk-through on Aug. 25 and bids were accepted through Sept. 2. The contract was awarded after press-time.

The scope of the reconstruction project includes grinding and reclamation of the existing Ivory Street pavement, removal and replacement of existing sidewalk, and the removal and replacement of the existing Ivory Street bridges. Area residents will have access to their driveways throughout the duration of the project.

Arrow Concrete Products will produce the bridge components, which are expected to be available on Sept. 12 to be available at the contractor’s request. Arrow Concrete Products will produce box culverts, cutoff walls, wing walls, head walls, and stone strong.

“If you look at the bridges from the water side, there is a lot of deterioration,” said Needleman. “They’re pretty close to 100 years old.”

While there is no noise ordinance in place, First Selectman Norman Needleman requested that work not begin before 7:30 a.m. and noisier activities, such as running dewatering equipment, not be performed early in the morning or late in the evening.

The improvements to Ivory Street were part of a town-wide capital improvement plan that has been in the works over the past two years. Needleman asked former selectman Joel Marzi to lead a committee examining the needs of the town. When Selectman Bruce Glowac was elected, he took over the work.

“I asked Joel to look into a needs-based capital improvement plan for town,” said Needleman. “When he became town clerk and Bruce came on, he agreed to continue the work because he’s a real infrastructure guy.”

The committee came up with a list of capital improvements for the Town of Essex that not only included the Ivory Street bridgework, but also the Walnut Street bridge, two new fire trucks, and improvements at the school, Town Hall, and the Public Works garage.

“We had a long list of things that had been approved,” said Needleman. “The work at the school—including the roof, new parking, and the library media center—finished before the students went back and work at the Town Hall and Public Works is happening now,” said Needleman. “The two new fire trucks are being built as we speak. I’ve seen photos of those in progress. Everything is happening in the timeframe we expected.”

The last project to be completed will be the Walnut Street bridge, which is scheduled to be done this coming spring. Because the bridge is part of a federal local bridge program, up to 80 percent of the improvement costs will be reimbursable.

Needleman is not only happy that the town is making these improvements, but he is pleased with the way the Board of Selectmen and other town offices have worked together to make these capital improvements possible.

“It’s not like we approved $7 to $8 million to do just one thing—it is all getting done and it’s sound planning for the future,” said Needleman. “I’m very excited that the town had the foresight to agree to this and that I’ve had a great Board of Selectmen and people who work together for the good of the town. There’s no politics in the conversation, so it’s made it a pleasure to do this job.”