Project Summary

In between downtown Mystic and Mystic Seaport lies dozens of businesses, scores of homes and an important collector road: Holmes Street. Holmes Street abuts the Mystic River and is supported by over 500 ft of Seawall that was established a century ago. Through various retrofits and upgrades the town has maintained this seawall, but the foundation beneath it has been eroding significantly under increased water-level rising and severe weather events. Building sustainable resilient infrastructure is key to preserving the area, and replacing this seawall can be made into an example of resilience for the Town of Stonington and other communities addressing infrastructure impacts from increasing storm surge and sea level rise.  Results from this $50,000 CIRCA grant project will be transferable to other communities tackling similar climate challenges.

Product

Preliminary Engineering Report Holmes Street Seawall –Innovative Design for Climate Resilience

June, 2023

Project Description

There are only two roads leading to the Historic downtown Mystic area from Stonington and Holmes Street is one of them.  The Town recognizes the need for this infrastructure project, and getting funding from CIRCA for a preliminary design is the first major step in the effort for a project estimated at $1 million. CIRCA is funding the seawall conceptual plan and construction estimates that include consideration of the future effects of sea level rise. The next step will be for the Town to aggressively pursue other funding and Capital Improvement funds and bring the design to realization.

Project Team

Town of Stonington
Weston & Sampson
UConn CIRCA