CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE:December 1 , 2008	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:    OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS    TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062    Fax: (860) 594-3066    Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

Additional Work on Moses Wheeler Bridge carrying I-95 over Housatonic River in Stratford and Milford Scheduled

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing the start of a contract to perform structural repairs to the Moses Wheeler Bridge on I-95 between Stratford and Milford.  This project is a continuation of preventative maintenance work which has been ongoing and will preserve the structural integrity of the bridge and approaches until the replacement bridge can be constructed.

This project involves the repair and reinforcement to steel components and applying a protective paint treatment on repair areas. Some construction activity will occur during the winter months though most of the needed work will be completed starting in the spring of 2009.  Traffic impacts on I-95 will be minimal since most of the work including staging will be located from underneath the structure.

“The public can be assured that the bridge is safe and the structure is capable of handling the traffic loads along this heavily traveled corridor.  Maintaining the structural integrity is of paramount importance to the Department.  Additional work may also be required in the interim until the new replacement structure is completed in approximately seven years,” said DOT Commissioner Joseph Marie.

The contract was awarded to Abhe & Svobhoda, Inc. of Prior Lake, Minnesota on November 12, 2008 at a cost of $2,363,310.00 and is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

The future replacement of the existing Moses Wheeler Bridge will be accomplished under two separate contracts.  The current design schedules indicate that the first contract for the construction of the foundations will start in the summer of 2009.  The second contract for the bridge and approaches is scheduled to start in the summer of 2010.  The new bridge will be fully operational in the summer of 2016 if everything remains on schedule.