Litchfield Fire House Construction Costs Rise $28,000

Excavation crews discovered uneven ground conditions that required specialized foundation work, adding $28,000 to Litchfield's fire house construction project.

Workers encountered sloped terrain that necessitated a "step-down" footing, a technique using concrete footings that change elevation in horizontal steps rather than maintaining a constant depth, First Selectman Henry Tirrell said.

The town and contractor initially estimated the additional work at $80,000 but negotiated the final cost down to $28,000. The contingency fund built into the project's $10-plus million budget covers the expense.

The setback has not delayed progress. Tirrell said the town generated enough invoices to request $833,000 in state reimbursement, the first installment of Connecticut's $2.5 million grant for the project. The state requires municipalities to spend money before receiving reimbursement. A separate $500,000 federal grant will become available only after construction concludes.