CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: MAy 24, 2010

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062 FAX: (860) 594-3065 WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

---

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that , weather permitting, Route 7 will be closed to traffic beginning at 4 AM Saturday, June 12, 2010 and remain in effect until 6 AM Monday, June 14, 2010 and also 4 AM Saturday, June 19, 2010 until 6 AM Monday, June 21, 2010.

The work will involve the erection of the new bridge girders and is part of the work for the replacement of Bridge No. 00562 over the Housatonic River.

Temporary Detour Information 

Detour signs will be in place and the detour route is:

Northbound:  Route 112 west to Route 41 north to Route 44/126 intersection. Falls Village traffic to continue on Route 126 to Route 7.  Northbound thru-traffic will continue along Route 44 to Route 7 in North Canaan. The temporary detour will increase the trip length by 7.4 miles for northbound traffic destined for North Canaan and by 12.3 miles for northbound traffic destined for Falls Village center.

Southbound: Route 126 north to Route 44 west to Route 41 south to Route 112 west to Route 7 near Lime Rock Park. The temporary detour will increase the trip length by 12.3 miles for southbound traffic in Falls Village destined for State Route 112.

The bridge will remain closed to pedestrians during the temporary detour. Appalachian trail hikers will be detoured westerly along Route 112 and northerly along Dugway Road to reconnect to the trail at Falls Mountain Road on the west side of the Housatonic River.

Motorists should expect minor delays.

The project was awarded to Brunalli Construction Company, Inc. of Southington, Connecticut on 5/2/2008 at a cost of $11,598,477.20 and is scheduled for completion in September of 2010.