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

FOR RELEASE: October 7, 2010

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

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The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that weekend work to repair bridge joints on I-84 eastbound in Hartford in the vicinity of Exit 49 is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday and continue until 5 a.m. Monday for the last two weekends of October.  The Broad Street and Sigourney Street ramps to I-84 east will be closed and I-84 east will be reduced to a single lane of travel during the overnight hours. 

The work involves repairing two bridge joints east of the viaduct and due to the extensive amount of removal and repair work, the contractor will be working around-the-clock over two weekend periods to complete the project.

Because of the difficulty in removing the existing bridge joints and the amount of reconstruction required at the bridge deck headers, the most efficient and safest approach is to allow the contractor to complete the repairs over the course of two consecutive weekends. This will allow the contractor to perform as much work as possible in the shortest amount of time. By contrast, a routine work schedule (Monday through Friday at night) would take over a month to complete the required work, and would not offer the best scenario for the longevity of the repair itself.

Due to weather or other circumstances, work may be rescheduled for the weekend of November 5-7 and if necessary the weekend of November 12-15, 2010. An updated notice will be issued if there are any changes to the current schedule. Broad Street and Sigourney Street on-ramps to I-84 eastbound will be closed from Friday 9 p.m. until Monday 5 a.m. for both weekends. The current lane closure schedule for I-84 eastbound is: 

Weekend 10/22-10/24/10

• Two lanes of travel available Friday 9 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• One lane of travel available Saturday 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday 10 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m.

Weekend 10/29-10/31/10

• Two lanes of travel available to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• One lane of travel available Friday, 9 p.m. to Saturday 6 a.m., Saturday 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and Sunday 10 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m.

The Department is coordinating the effort with the City of Hartford, the Department’s Highway Operations Center, regional travel and motor carrier organizations, as well as the state and local law enforcement. Motorists are urged to plan ahead and know alternate routes within Hartford as well as within the region since significant delays are expected.

Suggested Alternate Routes

• 84 East to X28 to I-691 east to X10 to I-91 North

• 84 East to Rt 72 east to Rt 9 South to X20N to I-91 North

• 84 East to X39A to Rt 9 South to I-91 North

Motorists should also be aware that I-84 eastbound from Exit 41 to Exit 46 is in the process of being resurfaced during night time hours. The schedule for the work has been revised to allow for the weekend work on the bridge joints. The contractor will be paving Monday through Thursday from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Please slow down and pay attention in work zones. People and equipment are working immediately adjacent to live traffic, so please reduce your speed.