Sally E. Bahner
While completion of the northerly access to the Branford Train Station is getting close, a couple of problems are delaying its opening.
Key to the station becoming fully functional is installation of the elevators. According to Department of Transportation Chief Inspector Mark Fullerton, they were expected to completed by Dec. 21. Completion of the elevators is the “critical path” toward completion, he said.
“The north side of tracks cannot be accessed with certificate of occupancy to open the station,” he said, adding that the certificate of occupancy will be issued once the elevators are completed in both towers. Elevators are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
DOT Transportation Engineer Paul Andruskiewicz said there was a delay in delivery of parts for the Kone elevators, which are manufactured in Europe and meet supplier specifications. Vertical structures have a lot of code issues, he added.
Sally E. Bahner
In addition, drainage is also being installed in the “Kiss & Go” drop-off area and since paving cannot be completed due to the colder temperatures, the north side of the station may not be issued that certificate of occupancy. That is also contributing to the delay in completion.
New Stairway
Sally E. Bahner
A stairway to Kirkham Street has been constructed with additional parking on Meadow Street at the area of the original train station. Another direct staircase is being constructed on the station side up to the street. Pedestrians will not have to cross the bridge and a cross walk will jog across the road. Stop signs at the intersection are already in place.
Rizzo Corp.
In an earlier interview, Kenneth Hunt, Rizzo Corporation’s project manager, said one of the project’s biggest challenges was the space for construction of the north platform canopy and the setting of its steel. Because of the nearby wetlands, it had to be erected using a specially manufactured truck that rides on the rails. Hunt said it was like a flatbed or box truck without the box, called a knuckle boom truck.
Hunt said the gratifying part of the project is “watching it come together.” He said the biggest challenge was working the job while maintaining train traffic.
That resulted in an occasional delay of night train traffic earlier in the project when the steel for the towers was lifted into place. Click here to read the story. Andruskiewicz said lighting- and safety-related parts of the project also need to be completed to meet code compliance. “There’s still quite a bit of work.”
Despite the delays, he said that this year has been more productive compared to the previous two years.
The project started on May 1, 2013. The original completion date was Oct. 25, 2014. Andruskiewicz said the cost of the project is around $10M, up from the $9M originally budgeted. Click here to read the story.
“The schedule will increase once both sides of the track are accessible on the north side,” Fullerton said. The new configuration will double the number of trains available in Branford – and it’s a free lot. The lot was expanded about five years ago and that will fill up quickly once both sides of the station are operational.
Sally E. Bahner
“It will be amazing,” Fullerton said.
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