While problems have been minimal at the still relatively new multi-million dollar Bridgeport Recreation Complex, there’s been one issue that won’t go away. And part of the problem has been a less than cooperative effort from Mother Nature.

 

For the second time since the complex officially opened in April of 2012, the city will look to get a permanent handle on a slip that developed early in the usage of the facility. In fact, Bridgeport has recently begun soliciting bids to do the slip repair work through a project designed by the Thrasher Group.

 

“It’s at the corner of the retaining wall (visible from State Route 273) and it developed a couple of years ago,” said Bridgeport City Engineer Tom Brown. “We went in last summer and put in some drainage to try and take the water off the slip and stabilize. The initial fix worked for a while.”

 

That’s when Mother Nature stepped in. Along with the grass not taking firmly in the area to help stabilize the slip, the initial fix was followed by a prolonged period of wet weather and then one of the most severe winters – particularly in terms of accumulation and freeze thaw – followed. Now, torrential rains and ongoing weather woes have been constants throughout the spring and summer months.

 

“The rain that came after it was fixed was bad enough that it basically undid everything,” Burton said. “It was fine for about a month or so, but the rain and the hard winter came and the slip was there again.”

 

This time Brown said the city believes it has a solution that will be permanent regardless of the weather. Brown said he’s confident it will work.

 

“Thrasher has come up with a way that will stabilize this slip and should eliminate any future concerns in that area,” said Brown.

 

Part of the slip is near an area where a heavily used walking trail is in place. Brown and Burton both emphasized there are no public safety concerns at this time.

 

“I’ve walked it myself and it is fine, but we’ll keep monitoring it,” said Brown.

Burton said he and his staff watch the slip area during the regular routine. He said any major changes would be reported immediately to Brown. To date, the biggest issue he’s reported to Brown was the fence posts near the trail that appeared to drop several inches.

 

“We’re through there every day,” said Burton. “Any changes we’ve seen in the past we’ve reported to Tom and anything we would see in the future we would immediately let him know as well. At this point, the area is certainly safe to continue walking on.”

 

Brown hopes the work will be completed in September. He said not only is that a dryer month that will make the project advance in a more rapid fashion, but he also said usage at the facility begins to taper off.

 

As for the cost of the project, Brown said he anticipates it to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. He said substantial cost savings will come from the fact that part of the material called for in Thrasher’s plans – rip rap, which is large rock that is usually from 12 to 24 inches in diameter – is available from other projects.

 

“We think that can be utilized and broken up to help stabilize the area,” said Brown. “The hope is that it will minimize some of the costs.”

 

Using rock allows water to drain through much faster. Replacing the slip with soil allows the soil to become saturated and slip; pulling other soil down with it.

 

The City will receive sealed bid until 2 p.m. on August 5 and the bids will be opened after 2 p.m. A pre-bid meeting will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. Contractors are asked to meet in the Bridgeport Municipal Complex Conference Room and then they will be taken to the slip site.

 

According to the bid document, work will consist of approximately 100 feet of under drain with 220 cubic yards of 6" to 12" rip rap to be placed for drainage purposes. The project will involve re-grading and seeding of area after placement of under drains and rip rap. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows P&R Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth pointing to fence posts that have dropped significantly due to the slip, while he walks the slip area beyond the fence that is visible from Route 131.