CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NEWS RELEASE 2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546 NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7546

FOR RELEASE: December 13, 2013

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 a new traffic signal located on Route 139 and School Ground Road in the town of Branford and North Branford is scheduled to be in service Monday, January 6, 2014.  A test period placing the signal on flash will begin Monday, December 30, 2013 for a seven day period.

      The new signal is part of a project to widen Route 139 and reconstruct the intersection with Valley Road.  The large Y-intersection will be narrowed to only allow one entrance onto Valley Road from Route 139 with the addition of an exclusive left turn lane.  Additional improvements have included the re-grading of the embankment slope on the west side of Route 139, flattening of the existing curve of Route 139 to improve the sightline, and some drainage improvements.

      The exclusive left-turn lane for the southbound traffic on Route 139 will greatly reduce queue lengths, allowing a more consistent flow of through traffic on Route 139. The re-alignment of Valley Road has created a T-type intersection with Route 139.  Its elevation has been raised to eliminate the steep approach at both the north and south junctions previously found at the Y-intersection. Remaining work including the final course of bituminous concrete pavement and line striping will be begin in the spring of 2014 with the project completed in June.

      The new Signals will be placed into a “FLASH” mode on December 30, 2013, and will remain in the “FLASH” mode for a period not less than seven (7) calendar days. This is performed to alert the travelling public that there will be new signalization put into service. On January 6, 2014, the new signals will be put into full service.

      DOT Project No. 0098-0103 was awarded to Complete Construction at a cost of $1,474,433.46 on April 12, 2013.  The project is currently scheduled to be completed in June 2014.

LANE CLOSURE INFO

      Impact to traffic traveling on Route 139 will be minimal.  Minor lane closures may take place during the winter months to complete punch list work.