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FAQ

  1.  What does Engineering Do?
    The Engineering Division works on design, permitting, and construction of repairs and improvements to Town Infrastructure including streets, sidewalks, stormwater drainage, and sanitary sewers.
     
  2. What information do we provide?
    We provide information about Town infrastructure and utilities to residents, contractors, consultants, developers, and others. 
     
  3. What do we review?
    We provide technical reviews for the Planning and Zoning Commission, Inland Wetlands Commission and Water Pollution Control Authority.  Last Year we reviewed and inspected developments for compliance with approved plans for 10 building permits and 31 certificates of occupancy.
     
  4. What is GIS?
    South Windsor Geographic Information System includes data on the roads, properties, storm drainage, sanitary sewer, and other features in Town that can be printed as a town map.  This data is developed and maintained by the Engineering Division working with IT.  The Town GIS is used by all departments, PZC, IWA/CC, residents and business to get information about properties and infrastructure in Town.
     
  5. What are all the paint marks on my street and what does CBYD mean?
    The paint marks show the locations of underground utilities such as water (blue) gas (yellow), electric (red), communications (orange) and sewers and storm drains (green).  Anyone digging with machines is required to notify the state wide” Call Before You Dig” number (1-800-922-4455) and request all underground utilities be marked where they will be digging.  This protects the underground utilities from damage and workers from harm that may occur if underground utilities are hit.  Last year we got about 2500 requests for utility mark outs In South Windsor from CBYD.
     
  6. Why is my street or lawn being dug up and why wasn’t I notified?
    Often, utility companies need to excavate in the road, sidewalk or grass areas adjacent to roads to repair, maintain or install new facilities.  This work is in the Town or State Right-of-Way for all streets or in an easement area.  They are supposed to take out a Street Excavation Permit, but do not usually notify nearby residents. Engineering follows up on utility work in Town.
     
  7. What Permits does the Engineering Department issue?
    Last year we issued 299 Street Excavation Permits to any contractor or utility digging in Town roads and Rights of Way.  We also issued 62 Drain Layers Permits to contractors who connected new or existing buildings to the Town sanitary sewer system.
     
  8. Who do I call if there is a trip hazard or damage to a sidewalk?
    Engineering keeps a list of all sidewalk trip hazards and hires contractors to repair or replace damage sidewalks as funds are available.  Some sidewalk slabs are removed and replaced and some slabs may be raised to eliminate trip hazards in a process we call “mud jacking”.
     
  9. When will my road be paved?
    Engineering and Public Works work with a consultant, VHB, to assess the conditions of all Town roads over a 4 year cycle.  This information is used to plan road repairs such as crack sealing, spot repairs, surface treatments like chip sealing, milling and repaving and complete road reconstruction.  Road projects are then scheduled based on the available funding.  This work has been mainly funded through voter approved capital bond referendums over the past 13 years.  Available Town Capital Project Funds and State funds have also been used for Road repaving and reconstruction projects.