Construction

For the quarterly progress reports, please go to the Updates page.

Construction Progress – July to December 2006

Summary
Site clearing and preparation began in July 2006.   Major physical changes became apparent as the Bates and Sons dewatered the northern wetlands in preparation for moving and compacting waste and sediments.   Another contractor begin compacting the landfill itself to prevent settlement at a later time.   Bates has already begun restoring the northern landfill with new topsoil, and EDI Landscape of Southington, Connecticut, is planting indigenous wetlands shrubs and grasses in the remediated areas. Excavation and restoration are also underway in the southern wetlands.   Construction of the leachate interceptor trenches (LITs) will begin in November.

July 2006
The site contractor, R. Bates and Sons, Inc. (Bates), of Clinton , Massachusetts , mobilized its equipment and began work at the site on July 5, 2006 .  Bates removed one old beaver dam in the proposed sediment remediation area manually, in stages, to prevent the release of high flows from upstream impounded water (with CT Department of Environmental Protection [CTDEP] approval). The resulting lower water level will facilitate the implementation of the remediation and restoration of the wetlands. Bates performed clearing and grubbing along the project perimeter and installed silt fence and hay bales to prevent water or other materials from leaving the construction site.

August 2006
Bates encountered waste outside of the excavation limits while clearing the work area. This was not an unexpected finding.  The project engineers, Haley & Aldrich, walked the area with the CTDEP and directed Bates to proceed with the work.  Waste located outside the project area is being placed on top of the landfill, dried and compacted so that it can be graded and placed under the landfill cover.

The CTDEP and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) approved a change in erosion and sedimentation controls requested by Haley & Aldrich and Bates. Straw wattles (straw packed in a mesh sock or tube) placed between two parallel lines of silt fence were installed in lieu of the gravel filter berms shown on project drawings.  This change was requested out of concern that settlement of organic deposits (under the weight of the gravel) would reduce the ability of the gravel berms to control sediment migration. 

CTDEP approved a dewatering plan submitted by Bates for the northern wetland areas in the Cedar Swamp Brook drainage.  Water pumped from sumps within the wetland work areas is being routed through a temporary sedimentation basin Bates constructed in the wetland creation area.  Water will be filtered and allowed to settle before infiltrating back into the wetlands away from the work area.  

UConn continues to work with CTDEP and the ACOE to finalize an agreement on the adjoining 64-acre parcel of wetlands and undeveloped woodland that will be preserved through a Conservation Easement.  UConn will grant the easement to CTDEP and be responsible for maintaining the area for passive recreation, education and research uses.  

September 2006
TerraSystems of Lovettsville, Virginia completed the first phase of dynamic compaction on a portion of the landfill. The compaction is accomplished by dropping a 18 ton weight multiple times by crane onto the ground. This action compacts the soil and existing waste material to prevent unexpected settlement in the future. A second phase of dynamic compaction will be done in April 2007 after the outlying solid waste and contaminated sediments are mixed and spread over the landfill and before the liner is installed.

Bates initiated removal of the contaminated sediment in the wetlands and followed up with immediate restoration by placing organic rich topsoil, boulders and woody debris over the disturbed land. Composted manure supplied from UConn operations was used to enrich the replacement soils. The impacted sediment is being placed on the landfill for drying and mixing with other material prior to final compacting and grading.

Upon replacement of the organic soil, EDI Landscape of Southington, Connecticut started planting indigenous wetlands shrubs and grasses in the remediated areas. Planting will continue until the end of the season (approximately the end of October).

October 2006
Bates has shut down the dewatering pumps in the northern wetlands and is finishing excavation and restoration in the southern wetlands. The next steps will involve consolidation of outlying waste from the landfill perimeter and preparing the site for leachate interceptor trench (LIT) construction (anticipated to begin about the beginning of November).

December 2006
Constructing the Leachate Interceptor Trenches
R. Bates & Sons, Inc. and its specialty subcontractor, Geo-Con, have made significant progress in constructing the northern leachate interceptor trench (LIT). Trenches will be positioned on the northern and southern ends of the landfill. Leachate is precipitation and groundwater that has passed through solid waste and contains suspended or soluble materials that came from the landfill. The LITs have been designed to capture the leachate flowing from the landfill before it reaches the wetlands. Then the leachate will be pumped to UConn's wastewater treatment facility.

Note to neighbors: As construction progresses, UConn plans to keep the pathway from Celeron Square to the University open as much as possible.   Because the path parallels and crosses the construction area, some inconvenience is expected, including temporary closure of or rerouting of the path, and the use of flagmen when the contractor is working nearby.   UConn regrets this inconvenience, but the safety of students, faculty, staff and residents makes it necessary.   Bus service remains available as scheduled along Hunting Lodge Road as an alternative.   Anyone who notices construction related problems should contact UConn's Senior Project Manager, James Pietrzak, P.E., at 860-486-5836

Construction Photographs - December 2006
Above, this aerial photo of the landfill construction looks northwest, with Celeron Square in the background. It shows how much consolidation of outlying waste has already taken place.		Above, another aerial view of the landfill construction site.		Above, the orange excavator is digging down to the level of bedrock to create the LIT.
Above, the contractor pumps a slurry mixture – a biodegradable polymer – to keep the walls of the trench open until the membrane, fabric liner and stone can be put into position.		Above, the contractor uses a metal frame to push the fabric liner material into position over the heavy membrane on the north side of the trench. The trench and heavy membrane will prevent leachate from going into the restored north wetlands.		With the north membrane in place, the contractor has placed the more porous, filter fabric across the entire trench. The layers of material are overlapped on each side to ensure that they cover the trench walls completely. Then stones are dumped into the trench to displace the slurry, to keep the fabric in position and to prepare to receive leachate (looking to the left of the photo, the completed segment of the trench is just visible). When the trench has been fully dug, lined and filled, the contractor will install the recovery well piping that will carry the leachate to UConn's wastewater treatment plant.