Senator Lopes Welcomes $5 Million in State Bond Funding to New Britain

Today, state Senator Rick Lopes (D-New Britain) is welcoming funding approved by the State Bond Commission, to New Britain. Today $5 million was approved to help improve the Allen Street drainage system in New Britain.

“This project has been overdue for nearly a decade,” said Senator Lopes. “All the rain we’ve seen in recent years makes it absolutely necessary that this project gets done. New Britain residents and business owners on and around Allen Street have dealt with flooding and property damage for far too long. This funding will finally deliver the infrastructure upgrades our community deserves, and I’m proud to have fought to make it happen.”

The Allen Street Drainage Improvements and Reconstructions Phase 2 project will improve the storm and sanitary lines that are part of a system that was installed over 100 years ago. Severe flooding has been occurring every year which causes significant damage to private properties and impacts a major thoroughfare each time one of these extreme rain events occur. The project will include approximately 2,400 feet of full depth reconstruction of the lines on Allen Street between Oak Street and Stanley Street. Most of the work required is due to the fact that the sections of the existing systems are over 17 feet deep and located in areas of high ledge.

Residents and property owners along Allen Street and the surrounding neighborhoods will benefit from reduced flooding and property damage. Local businesses that depend on Allen Street as a major thoroughfare will see fewer disruptions during heavy rain events. The broader New Britain community will benefit from modernized, more resilient infrastructure capable of handling increasingly severe weather.

This project is expected to be done by Spring 2026.