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

FOR RELEASE: March 6, 2012

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 Yankee Gas will begin relocation of the gas main along Homer Street and Chase Avenue in Waterbury on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.  The utility work is in advance of a major widening project scheduled to begin between Waterville Street and Nottingham Terrace. 

Expect significant delays in the area.  Variable message signs will be used to update motorists of traffic operations as work progresses. 

Homer Street from Cooke Street to Waterville Street: Effective Wednesday March 7, 2012, westbound traffic will be shifted to one of the eastbound lanes during daytime activities.  At the end of each day the roadway will be returned to its normal alignment.

Project Information

The major widening portion of the work, DOT Project No. 0151-0296, was awarded to Dayton Construction Company of Watertown, CT on February 14, 2012, at a cost of $5,455,364.50.  The contractor is scheduled to begin some construction activity in March to facilitate utility relocation and will begin the more extensive reconstruction of Chase Avenue around April 2, 2012.  The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2013.

Homer Street and Chase Avenue are minor urban arterials that form part of an east/west corridor between Route 8 and Route 69 in Waterbury.  The section of the roadway between Waterville Street and Nottingham Terrace primarily consists of one lane in each direction and there are two signalized intersections within the project limits.

The major widening will provide two continuous through lanes in each direction and left turn lanes at the Cooke Street intersection.  The proposed roadway will consist of two 11 foot lanes and one 2 foot shoulder in each direction.

Other traffic and safety improvements include replacing concrete sidewalks, concrete curbing and minor drainage improvements; replacement of the traffic signal at the Cooke Street intersection; modifications to the channel south of Homer Street between Cooke Street and Dwight Street; and construction of retaining walls to accommodate the widened roadway.