Behind the Scenes on Route 44
The view from Norfolk’s Center Cemetery provides a good vantage point for the ongoing construction of the new retaining walls along Route 44. The so-called H piles, which can reach upwards of 50 feet, are in place and welders are working to install the studs that will be used to connect to the concrete face […]
Old Colony Road (Truly) Closed
By Avice Meehan Residents of Old Colony Road no longer live on a high-speed shortcut around the state Department of Transportation retaining wall project on Route 44. Thanks to the recent installation of a gate on the Route 44 end of Old Colony Road, the steep and winding road is now open only to local […]
Drilling for Stability
By Avice Meehan A German-made rig so tall that it is nearly even with the top of Center Cemetery—the BG 23 H made by Bauer Maschenin GmbH and can reach a maximum height of 72 feet—is being used by K2 Construction to install the foundations for the first of two retaining walls along Route 44. […]
History at the Top of the Hill
Preserving Norfolk’s Center Cemetery By Michael CobbAnyone driving through Norfolk on the way to Canaan will notice major infrastructural work reinforcing the hillside above Route 44. Many trees have been cut just below the Norfolk Center Cemetery, which sits somewhat perilously atop the now-barren slope. Norfolk Historical Society Director Barry Webber, who also serves as vice president […]
Route 44 Retaining Wall Project Making Progress
Completion expected by September 2026 By Avice MeehanThe Connecticut Department of Transportation has good news for Norfolk residents and travelers who use Route 44: The massive project to replace three retaining walls below and to the east of Norfolk’s historic Center Cemetery has a September 2026 completion date. CDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, who last worked […]
Selectman’s Corner
It’s a Waiting Game for Federal Funds By Matt Riiska With all the projects we currently have in process in Norfolk, I am asked if the federal budget cuts will affect our plans and what we can expect in the future. Federal funds received by the town are filtered through the State of Connecticut, so […]
Budget, Road Projects, School Topics for Selectmen
By Ruth Melville The 2025/26 budget season is here, and at the Feb. 5 meeting of the Board of Selectmen First Selectman Matt Riiska reported that about half the departmental budgets have been received, along with several requests from outside organizations that the town supports. The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen,March 5, will […]
New Design Speeds Route 44 Retaining Wall Project
Traffic Signals Updated By Avice Meehan The signals that control access through the retaining wall project on Route 44 now have count-down clocks and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) has also added a temporary light at Blackberry Street for motorists trying to enter the construction zone. Those improvements—all intended to lower the stress levels […]
New Timeline for Retaining Wall Work
The state Department of Transportation has a December surprise in store for Norfolk residents and any motorist who travels Route 44: work to rebuild the crumbling retaining walls will continue through the winter and end two years earlier than planned. Long-suffering flagmen (and women) will also get a break with the installation of a temporary […]
Sewer Lines on the Move
As anyone traveling through Norfolk on Route 44 can attest, cooler weather has not slowed the K2 Infrastructure Group. Working under the supervision of the Norfolk Sewer District, the contractor has focused on relocating sewer lines to the opposite side of Route 44 in anticipation of the extensive retaining wall replacement project to come. The […]
