Hadley officials ponder new levee for flood-risk protection
A family takes a stroll on the Connecticut River levee in Hadley, March 8. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — Before a decision is made to pursue construction of a 1.4-mile-long levee system on Bay Road to protect the town center against 100-year floods from the Connecticut River, engineering consultants anticipate giving town officials more information about the project and the condition of the existing flood control system.
As soon as annual Town Meeting later this month, residents could be asked to spend $150,000 so Woodard & Curran engineering consultants of Andover can evaluate options, engage the public and develop a plan and cost estimates for what could be a multimillion-dollar construction project, as well as expensive repairs to existing levees.