Congress Street Substation

Congress Street Flood Mitigation Project

The Congress Street Substation is the first flood mitigation project UI will build. It is currently under construction.

The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) at the Congress Street Substation is elevation 12.0 feet and this station is at risk as all critical equipment elevations are below the BFE (or FEMA 1% annual chance flood level).

Due to its location adjacent to the Pequonnock River and in proximity to Bridgeport Harbor/Long Island Sound, on several occasions Congress Street Substation has been affected by coastal storms.

Purpose/Customer Benefits: Provide flood protection to this coastal substation during severe weather conditions. The scope includes installation of flood walls and gates around the substation perimeter, storm water runoff and discharge system.

Construction Process

This unique location on the bank of the Pequonnock River in Bridgeport, bordered by the CT Detention Center and the Metro North Railroad, as well as the busy downtown of Bridgeport, presents several unique construction challenges.

These include water-front construction, which required the installation of a cofferdam and a trestle platform to facilitate access for the heavy machinery and equipment; work within the energized substation and under live transmission lines, as the Congress Street Substation continues feeding customers during construction; environmental restrictions that necessitated the operation of on-site water treatment facilities; and rigorous noise and vibration monitoring program.