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

FOR RELEASE: May 11, 2011

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 (CTDOT) will conduct a Public Information Meeting concerning the rehabilitation of Bridge No. 00507, which carries Route 816 over the Housatonic River in the town of Newtown and Southbury.  The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Newtown Municipal Center, Council Chambers at 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT. 

The proposed project consists of rehabilitating the existing bridge, which is a single span steel through-truss structure supported by concrete abutments at the river banks.  The overall length is 308 feet consisting of a concrete deck supported on steel floorbeams and stringers.  The bridge width is approximately 29 feet curb-to-curb and carries one lane of traffic in each direction.  The bridge is in need of rehabilitation due to the poor condition of the steel superstructure. Rehabilitation work will include steel repairs, painting, bearing replacement and concrete deck replacement. The construction will be performed in two stages and will utilize a detour for the first stage in which the deck and bearings are replaced. In stage two, steel repairs and painting will be done utilizing either two-way traffic or alternating one-way traffic depending on the available roadway clearance. Under this scenario, the bridge would be fully closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrians for one construction season.

The current project schedule estimates that construction will start in the spring of 2013 and be completed in the fall of 2014, assuming acceptance of the project, availability of funding and receipt of any required right-of-way and environmental permits

Representatives from the Department of Transportation will be available at 6:30 p.m. to answer any questions, with a formal presentation beginning at 7:00 p.m. Residents, commuters, business owners, and other interested individuals are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about and discuss the proposed work.

Anyone wishing to review the plans may contact Mr. James Cavanaugh, Transportation Project Engineer (Bridge), for an appointment at (860) 594-3209. The plans are available at the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, Connecticut, during office hours, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding holidays.