New Floodgates Installed At Underpass In West Haven

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Pictured, from right): West Haven Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana demonstrates the newly installed floodgate on the north side of the Campbell Avenue underpass Thursday as police traffic Sgt. Charles Young and Mayor Dorinda Borer discuss the city’s emergency action plan for the flood-prone area.

After decades of using wooden sawhorses to block reoccurring flood areas and having public safety personnel parked at the sites, Borer requested the installation of floodgates to safeguard motorists from the dangerous areas.

As part of a pilot program, the metal gates have been installed on both sides of the railroad underpass and have flashing orange lights and yellow-and-black “Road Closed” signs.

Fontana said police will close the gates during rainstorms to prevent vehicles from driving through the low-lying area. A “Detour” sign set up by police on the north side of the underpass will reroute traffic up York Street, he said.

“We want to make sure we’re doing everything in West Haven to mitigate flash flooding and save lives,” Fontana said.

About a block northeast, the city is also installing floodgates on both sides of the Washington Avenue underpass.

Fontana said the city plans to install cameras to monitor the underpasses during storms.