For those utilizing Compton Park, the interruptions due to work and upgrades that were frequent for the last year are set to begin again. However, this time they shouldn’t be nearly as drastic.

 

After retaining wall, trail work, the replacement of infrastructure and more had the park looking like a big-city construction zone for much of the winter months and heading into spring, more work is going to have to be done. During this week’s Bridgeport Utility Board meeting, City Engineer Tom Brown said one of the areas of work that was done in-house to hopefully save significant dollars is failing and will need to be contracted out.

 

“I’m disappointed that it happened because you never like to see things not work out as planned,” said Brown. “We’ve done multiple projects with our in-house staff looking to save dollars and for the most part, things have turned out really solid for us. We go into these very up front that it’s on a learning curve and this is a lesson learned if we have a similar problem.”

 

The problem in question resulted from storm drainage replacement and repair – larger and deeper than what was previously there – that took place. Brown told the Utility Board that the earth underneath the old drain was saturated significantly due to an ongoing leak before it was removed. Although workers were aware of the problem, Brown said they needed to do more.

 

“We did undercut it about a foot (underneath). Based on discussions with engineers and contractors, we probably should have put two to three feet of bedding underneath it and encased it totally in gravel,” Brown said. “It’s pushing underneath, under the pipe, and flattening out … It has to be replaced.”

 

The problem is noticeable as a sinkhole has formed in an area that touches the recently re-paved walking trail. Currently, the area is roped off, which means walkers will have to maneuver around the area and Parks and Recreation officials are working with Brown’s office to make sure anyone using the park is not in harm’s way.

 

“We’ll do everything we can in making sure those who utilize Compton Park have a safe experience. We’ll be working with Tom Brown’s office to address anything they may need to assure the area in question is addressed in the most efficient manner to all involved. It goes without saying that safety is our number one concern,” said P&R Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth.

 

The contractor that eventually does the work will likely have to dig up a substantial area. Brown estimates it will be between 120 and 130 feet. Brown said he thinks he knows the way to fix it permanently, but will get a second opinion.

 

“I’m going to talk to a geotechnical engineer to see if our plan is feasible. I want to see if we need to do borings to double check that area or what I think the right fix is (is good enough),” Brown said. “ … If (the engineers) strongly recommend a couple of borings done before we put it out to bid then we’ll do that.”

 

Brown hopes to put the project out to bid as soon as possible. With summer coming to an end, the park’s usage will decrease and the weather shouldn’t be as difficult prior to the onset of winter.

 

As for the cost, Brown isn’t sure how much the fix will be at this time. He said it’s likely a five figure project. He also said he wasn’t sure once all was said and done if the city would still save money from the entire work that was done by city staff on various projects.

 

“That would be hard to figure out because we added water line work, sewage lines and did that lookout that goes out at Pearcy with a table and put in some new drain areas,” said Brown. “I still think this method is the right way to go.”

 

Another project that's been taking place at Compton has nothing to do with the drainage. Worker's with Neel's Fence Company were hoping to have a fence project complete by the time the Labor Day Weekend was here, Shuttleworth said.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows P&R Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth at the sinkhole that is the result of a drainage system that's failed, while a worker with Neel's Fence Company handles another job at Compton Park this past week.