Emergency Work to Begin Southport Train Station in Fairfield CT

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: January 11, 2008

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
   OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
   TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
   Fax: (860) 594-3066
   Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

Emergency Work to Begin

Southport Train Station in Fairfield, CT

NEWINGTON, CT – Connecticut Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Emil H. Frankel announced today that Banton Construction Co., Inc., of North Haven has been awarded an emergency contract to perform work at the Southport Train Station in Fairfield that was damaged by fire on January 4, 2008.

The contract includes the installation of temporary facilities until a new train station building is constructed. There will be a heated waiting area and separate men’s and women’s lavatories and toilet facilities provided.

“The Department is working closely with the Town of Fairfield and Metro-North Railroad to get adequate accommodations for rail patrons. It is our intent to have a heated temporary facility in place next week,” said Acting Commissioner Frankel.

Banton Construction will also be handling the demolition of the existing fire-damaged structure. Start of the demolition work is unknown at this time pending completion of the investigation and the contractor obtaining the necessary permits.

The contractor will be working over the weekend to have the entire length of the platform and the ticket vending machines accessible to rail patrons in time for the Monday, January 14 morning commute. Portable toilets are also being brought in until the necessary sanitary connections are installed for the temporary facility.

During the week, the bicycle lockers will be relocated to another part of the station area to allow for installation of the temporary building to be used as the waiting room.

The station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The design of the replacement building is currently in the planning stages and a schedule is unavailable.