Durham Receives $500,000 for Pickett Lane Culvert Project

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced today that Durham will receive an additional $500,000 grant from the state to pay for culvert repairs along Pickett Lane.

The Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant will help pay for the project which is designed to alleviate flooding in the area that leads to the town's school complex.

“On behalf of the residents of the Town of Durham, I wish to thank Governor Malloy for awarding the STEAP grant for the Pickett Lane culvert replacement,” Durham first selectman Laura Francis said. “Replacing the failing and undersized culvert will insure safe passage to our only municipal park and ball fields, Korn Elementary School, and Coginchaug Regional High School, which also serves as our town’s emergency shelter. I am extremely grateful for the STEAP program as it helps small towns invest in capital projects such as infrastructure improvements.”

To date, Durham has received $850,000 in STEAP grants for the Pickett Lane culvert repair project, which is expected to cost $1.7 million.

“This crucial investment in the Town of Durham will help preserve properties from flooding and diminish the public safety risk posed by the intrusive waters,” State Sen. Ed Meyer said. “I want to thank Governor Malloy for supporting the Town of Durham and ensuring that we receive this critically important state investment in our infrastructure.”

Durham was one of 14 small towns to receive funding from the state for capital improvement and other municipal facility projects.

“These STEAP grants are critical to many small towns across the state that need this funding to complete important capital improvement projects that otherwise may never get financed,” Malloy said.

Durham has spent approximately $70,000 so far on the preliminary design (complete) and permitting (almost complete), according to officials. The town has an engineering contract in place for final design, bidding and construction administration and inspection.

Durham's other elected officials had this to say about the announcement:

“This is great news for Durham. I’m delighted that the state recognizes the importance of fixing this long term problem,” State Rep. Noreen Kokoruda said.

State Rep. Vincent Candelora added, “This grant is a critical investment in a project that is long overdue."

“When Representative Candelora, Representative Kokoruda and I were first elected in November to represent the people of Durham, we were immediately made aware of the frustration felt by residents with the state’s failure to grant funding to complete this important project,” State Senator Len Fasano (R-East Haven, North Haven, Durham, Wallingford). “We made it a priority of ours and brought it to the attention of the Governor’s Office. This project will move ahead thanks to the administration’s efforts – particularly the Governor’s chief of staff, Mark Ojakian – and the persistent dedicated advocacy of Durham’s first selectman, Laura Francis.”