Norwich — The city successfully sold $8.3 million in bonds this week at favorable interest rates to cover several infrastructure projects and to refinance 2009 bonds, city officials announced.

The bond sales include $4.45 million in tax-exempt capital bonds at a 2.94 percent interest rate, $2.83 million in tax-exempt refunding bonds at 2.59 percent interest rate and $1 million in taxable capital bonds at a 3.73 percent interest rate.

The bonds cover road and bridge construction projects, the purchase of firefighter air packs and Norwich Public Utilities natural gas expansion.

City Comptroller Joshua Pothier said the refinancing of $2.83 million in principal and interest on bonds initially sold in 2009 will yield a net savings of $246,000.

The city received a AA bond rating with a favorable long-term outlook by Standard & Poor's bond rating agency in early February in anticipation of the bond sales, City Manager John Salomone said.

“These low interest rates reflect the market and the credit worthiness of the city,” Salomone said in a news release announcing the bond sales.