CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546
FOR RELEASE: May 20, 2008	FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:    OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS    TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062    Fax: (860) 594-3066    Web site:www.ct.gov/dot

DOT Announces End of Southbound Directional Closures of Putnam Bridge.

'Get in - Get out' Strategy is Proving Effective

Acting Transportation Commissioner H. James Boice today announced that the majority of work on the southbound portion of the Putnam Bridge is complete.  No additional full weekend closures of the southbound travel lanes are planned. This represents a halfway point toward project completion. The Putnam Bridge carries Route 3 over the Connecticut River between Glastonbury and Wethersfield.

"We promised commuters we would do everything in our power to minimize inconveniences associated with this important project, and we delivered.  By utilizing weekend directional closures, we were able to achieve the least possible impact on the tens of thousands of travelers who use this bridge as part of their weekday morning and afternoon commute,” said Commissioner Boice.  "Additionally, with our 'get in, get out' policy, the Department's contractors were able to repair and rehabilitate one entire direction of travel in four weekends. Using traditional construction practices, this could have taken an entire construction season resulting in additional costs and traffic congestion for Connecticut's taxpayers.”

The completed deck repair and resurfacing of the southbound lanes represents roughly half of the $ 4.5 million project initiated to rehabilitate the entire deck surface of the Putnam Bridge.  The work consists of milling of the bituminous concrete wearing surfaces, patching the concrete deck, installing a waterproof deck membrane, repaving the deck and replacing deck joints. The project addresses immediate-need repairs and is intended to extend the service life of the bridge until a more comprehensive project can be funded and designed. 

"Despite the weather we've had these past few weekends, our staff and contractors really came through to get this job done well and on schedule. It goes without saying that this was a huge team effort, and the Department could not have pulled it off without the hard work of  the contractor, Arborio Corporation, subcontractors CT Paving, Santoro, Metcalf Reclaiming, and Safety Markings, as well as Tilcon for supplying materials, and the Glastonbury, East Hartford, Wethersfield and State Police.  Most importantly, the DOT extends its gratitude to the public for bearing with us as we continue to work as expeditiously as possible to complete the second phase of the project."

Weekend directional closures of the northbound lanes are scheduled to begin on Friday, May 30th.  Up to five weekend directional closures are anticipated to complete the northbound side.  No directional closures will take place the week of the Travelers Championship, June 16th - 22nd, or during the July 4th weekend.

Motorists are urged to visit the Department's website at www.ct.gov/dot  and select "Putnam Bridge Project" to learn more about the project, see an updated project schedule and view suggested detour routes.