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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456 |
| FOR RELEASE: January 4, 2012 |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot |
Public Info Meeting Concerning Replacement of Route 17 Bridge over Long Hill Brook in Middletown
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will conduct a Public Information Meeting concerning the replacement of Bridge No. 02190, which carries Route 17 over Long Hill Brook in the City of Middletown. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 7 p.m. in Room 208 at the Middletown City Hall, 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, Connecticut. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.
The existing bridge, built in 1927, is a single 14-foot long clear span reinforced concrete slab structure. It is situated on Route 17 just south of Route 155 at the intersection of Coleman Road. The bridge carries one lane of traffic in both the northbound and southbound directions. It has an overall length and width of 16.25 feet and 32.5 feet, respectively, and a curb-to-curb width of 28 feet. The substructure consists of reinforced concrete abutments and wingwalls. The estimated 2010 Average Daily Traffic (ADT) on Route 17 at this site is 15,600 vehicles.
The purpose of and need for the project is to address the bridge’s structural deficiencies, functional obsolescence, hydraulic inadequacy, scour critical rating, and substandard load rating. The bridge is structurally deficient primarily due to the deteriorated condition of the reinforced concrete superstructure. The substandard bridge roadway width renders it functionally obsolete. The structure is hydraulically inadequate due to its inability to pass the 100-year frequency design discharge with sufficient underclearance. The bridge is classified as scour critical in the latest inspection report because the bridge substructure has exposed and undermined footings and was determined to be potentially unstable for the predicted scour conditions. The Inventory Load Rating of the existing bridge is listed as 34 Tons, which is below the standard minimum of 36 Tons.
The proposed project consists of replacement of the bridge with a cast-in-place reinforced concrete slab superstructure supported by reinforced concrete abutments founded on bedrock. Slope protection will be placed on the embankments below the proposed structure upstream and downstream of the bridge to prevent future erosion from occurring.
The proposed bridge will be widened with a curb-to-curb width of 36 feet to accommodate a 12-foot lane and 4-8 foot shoulders in each direction. The centerline of Route 17 at the bridge will be shifted approximately 2 feet to the east. A sidewalk is proposed on the east side of the bridge due to the overbuild required for stage construction. Route 17 will be reconstructed approximately 200 feet either side of the bridge to accommodate the bridge widening. The existing guide railing will be removed and replaced with Type R-B 350 metal beam rail.
Construction will be performed in three stages so that a minimum 11-foot wide travel lane can be maintained in each direction throughout construction. Impacts to private property consisting of permanent easements and a drainage right-of- way are anticipated. Work is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2014 and be completed in the fall of 2015. The replacement of this bridge is to be undertaken with Federal-aid funds. The estimated construction cost for this project is $2,000,000.
The Public Information Meeting is being held to afford a full opportunity for public participation and to allow open discussion of any views and comments the community may have concerning this proposed project.
Plans will be available for public review. CTDOT personnel will be available during the meeting to discuss this project. More detailed information is available at CTDOT's Office of Engineering, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington , Connecticut
All persons interested in this project are welcome to attend this meeting and discuss the project with CTDOT personnel.