US Route 1 in Branford To Be Closed In Both Directions Between I95 South Ramps Branford Connector an

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546

NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: April 13, 2011

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062

FAX: (860) 594-3065

WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

U.S. Route 1 in Branford To Be Closed In Both Directions Between I-95 South Ramps (Branford Connector) and Route 142 (Short Beach Road) Beginning 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30, until 12 p.m. on Sunday May 1, 2011

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is announcing that U.S. Route 1 in the town of Branford is scheduled to be closed to traffic to set new bridge girders for the Amtrak Railroad Bridge. There will be no access to north or south Route 1 between the I-95 on and off ramps at Exit 53, referred to as the Branford Connector, and Route 142 (Short Beach Road). The closure is currently scheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30, until 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, 2011.

The project which began August 13, 2009, extends from Orchard Hill Road to the I-95 on and off ramps (Branford Connector). In addition to the installation of the new Amtrak Bridge, work will include the installation of a new box culvert at Mill Creek under Route 1; installation of new traffic signals at Alps Road, the entrance to the A&P Shopping Center and Route 142 along Route 1; and widening of Route 1 to provide more travel lanes along with improvements to drainage.

Motorist Advisory - Motorists are advised that they should plan ahead and seek alternate routes during the Route 1 closure. An info-line number, (203) 315-0966, has been set up for the project that plays a prerecorded message with current project information including the hours of work and is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

DETOUR INFO- 9 p.m. Saturday, April 30, until 12 p.m. on Sunday May 1, 2011:

- U.S. Route 1 southbound traffic will be detoured onto Branford Connector to I-95 south, Exit 52 (Route 100, High Street/Main Street) and back onto U.S. Route 1 (West Main Street).

- U.S. Route 1 northbound traffic traveling between Route 100 in East Haven and Route 142 (Short Beach Road) in Branford will need to reroute onto southbound Route 1 to Route 100 to I-95 northbound to Exit 53 Branford Connector to U.S. Route 1 north.

LANE CLOSURE INFO- At all other times motorists can expect lane closures or alternating one way traffic on Route 1 during nighttime hours:

- Monday - Friday 10 PM to 6 AM

- Saturday 10 PM to 9 AM

- Sunday 9 PM to 6 AM Monday

DOT Project No. 0014-0157 was awarded to J.F. White/Empire Joint Venture of Westfield Massachusetts on June 29, 2009 at a cost of $44,706,241.35 and is scheduled to be completed in March 2014.

The construction project is one of several transportation infrastructure initiatives being funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and a full listing of Connecticut DOT ARRA projects, please go to our website www.ct.gov/dot under the “Recovery Information” icon in the right hand margin.