Connecticut Construction Entrance Detail

Connecticut is named after the Connecticut River, which accounts for 70% of the fresh water introduced to the Long Island Sound. The Connecticut River is deeply linked to the early history of the state and presently is the focal point of Connecticut’s major cities. The state’s population is concentrated in the Connecticut River Valley; therefore, the health and purity of these waters is key in maintaining a clean environment for the residents of Connecticut. The river is the longest in the region with 406 miles of shoreline it collects the stormwater from 11,260 square miles. This vast watershed area makes the river vulnerable to the pollution introduced in the stormwater. For the first half of the 20th century, industrial and construction pollutants negatively affected the purity of the river and consequently the health of the ecology connected to its waters. The Connecticut River is home to a wide variety of freshwater wildlife, including rainbow trout, pike, and eels. Eight of the twelve mussel species present in the river are on the endangered list.

The Water Quality Act of 1965 has had a tremendous beneficial impact on the purity of the Connecticut River, raising the quality rating and making the river safe for fishing and swimming in most sections. The possibility for improvement is still available, and continuing to protect this resource is vital for the health of the residents, economy, and the growth of the state. To reduce the pollution introduced to the stormwater of Connecticut, the state has implemented the use of NPDES permits to supervise and control the impact of construction sites on the health of the surface waters.

Connecticut DEPT. of Energy and Environmental Protection

The EPA has established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to prevent construction and industrial activities from negatively affecting the stormwater system. In Connecticut, the NPDES program is administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater and Dewatering Wastewaters from Construction Activities ("Construction Stormwater General Permit") is meant to cover the common cases for construction activities. Contractors seeking coverage under this General Permit are required to create and implement a Stormwater Pollution Control Plan (SWPCP).

The SWPCP document outlines and specifies each potential source of pollution and the techniques that will be used to mitigate and contain the contaminants. The techniques called Best Management Practices or BMPs. On sites without proper BMPs in place, contaminants may leave sites through dust, runoff, and heavy erosion areas, as well as on vehicles exiting the construction site. These requirements of the SWPCP are explored in detail in the DEEP’s General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater Guide section 5(b).

An effective SWPCP plan includes measures to minimize pollutants leaving the construction site and entering the public stormwater system. The goal of a successful Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan is to create a closed stormwater system within the affected construction zone. These pollutant sources can be contained through proper planning and implementation of proven practices and products, such as dust watering and anti-erosion fabrics. The Connecticut DEEP publishes the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control to assist contractors and engineers as they plan operations.

Tire Tracked Soil - Construction Entrance Detail

The most common source of water pollution from construction sites is soil and debris, which is tracked onto public roadways. Rain events will carry sediment-laden stormwater into storm drains, which flow directly to waterways. To address this pollution source, the Construction Entrance (CE) BMP is installed on a job site. The Construction Entrance is placed at the entrance and exit points to the job site to mitigate sedimentation and erosion caused by construction vehicles. A variety of options are available to the operator and Plan designer to address this potential pollution source. The 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control contain information about standard techniques and dimensions of Anti-Tracking Pads. Section 5-12 of the 2002 Guide defines a typical construction entrance as a stabilized pad consisting of stone or mud rack located at the ingress egress points of the construction area to mitigate the soil tracked onto public roadways by vehicles exiting the site.

A construction entrance is usually one of the first practices implemented by an operator before other construction activities begin to safely bring heavy machinery onto the construction zone. The CE serves both to remove sediment from construction vehicles and to provide a stable surface for the heavily trafficked ingress/egress points. The construction entrance location should be carefully considered when planning the SWCPC to allow vehicles to effectively access the entire site during construction and to accommodate the required dimensions for soil tracking prevention. There are several options when designing a stabilized anti-tracking pad, and each has its own benefits and maintenance routine.

Street sweeping is required during construction activities to prevent sediment from entering the roadways. When a construction entrance is installed and properly maintained, the need for street sweeping can be significantly reduced.