With boating season just around the corner, the stalled work on Branford's state boat launch is set to begin again soon, with a hoped-for completion date in about six weeks' time to allow public access and use of a completely upgraded site.

In an exclusive interview with Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)Director of Boating Division Eleanor Mariani, Zip06/The Sound was told about DEEP's approximate six-week completion window and learned issues caused by settling at the base of the new concrete ramp have been solved, and will soon be fixed. Mariani also told Zip06/The Sound that work will be underway soon to remove a pile of soil sitting on the lot, followed by regrading the space and finishing it with a gravel surface, rather than the orginally-intended asphalt surface, which could settle.  To complete the project, the launch's new floating dock system, which had a successful test installation last fall, will then be put in place.

The heavily used state boat launch was notorious for losing too much water at low tide to allow trailered power boats to be safely launched, and the site also needed many other fixes. DEEP originally set the renovation project to begin in fall 2014 with a spring 2015 finish. However, the replacement work instead got underway in the spring of 2016, closing the outmoded launch for the summer 2016 boating season. Then, the work hit a snag last fall, and had to stop, said Mariani.

"The base of the ramp began to settle more than expected, and a piece of the bottom of the ramp actually broke off," said Mariani. "It's a piece that normally is in place for power loading issues, and also lends support to the bottom of the ramp. It broke off because of the settling. That's what we're going in to fix. It's needed so when people back a trailer in at low tide, their tires won't go in."

Mariani said the project also halted for another couple of reasons.

"One was actually to get the (federal) money in place; that's done, and we now have permits in place to continue. We had a meeting on site with the contractor and they will begin to remove the soil on site very shortly, if they haven't begun already," said Mariani.

The $1 million upgrade has received 75 percent of its funding through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife grant and the remaining 25 percent through state bonding money that's already been secured and spent on the project, Mariani added.

The old wooden pier at the launch was torn down last year and the asphalt ramp into the water was replaced with a ramp with a grooved, concrete slab surface and concrete pavers around it to prevent erosion.  The ADA accessible, floating dock system was then constructed and tested. A separate, concrete block launch for kayaks and canoes will also be incorporated into the new ramp design. Parking lot improvements will allow for easier turning radius and will also include some lighting.

Currently, soil tests of the dirt piled in the lot need to be conducted to provide documentation the contractor needs before the fill can be hauled off.

"As soon as they get results, they can start moving it off," said Mariani. "And the in-water work is being prepared now. That contractor that's doing that has to do some pre-fabrication of materials and will be working on that. So in all, we're expecting another six weeks or so to complete the project, although we don't have a firm date as yet."

Mariani said DEEP recognizes that the launch is a popular site and one of the best in the state. She said it's understandable that boaters are anxious to see it back in use.

"It's such a valuable spot. It gets a lot of use, and we understand that," said Mariani. "The problem we had is solved; and it's going to be beautiful when it's done. The main thing is we to have to ensure it's going to last for 25 years – that's among our requirements for using some of the federal funds. So if we didn't make these fixes, we couldn't guarantee that."

The launch is located on Goodsell Point Road and puts boaters into the Branford River. Last fall, the new floating docks were being tested at the site, and that led some boaters who saw the docks in place to think the launch was about to open. Mariani said the testing was required in order to allow the contractor to prove to DEEP that the docks were ship-shape.

"When the floating docks were tested out, they looked really good. They were put in during the fall just to make sure they worked properly," she said.

Once the parking lot is graveled and the docks are in place, the launch will be open for use.  Mariani said it may be as simple as opening the gates to allow public access, rather than holding an official opening ceremony. The date of the launch re-opening will posted at DEEP's website as soon as its available, she said. DEEP has been using the site to keep the public as apprised as possible of the project process. See the site here

"I think at this point we're going to try to get it open as soon as we can. So as soon as its ready, we're going to open it up so people can use it," said Mariani. "We hope to have a date posted in the near future, so people can make a decision if they're trying to make plans on where they're going to launch their boat."