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

FOR RELEASE: June 3, 2016

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 (Department) will conduct a public information meeting concerning construction impacts associated with Phase 1 of the Atlantic Street Reconstruction and Metro-North Railroad (MNRR) Bridge replacement project in the city of Stamford on June 9, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Stamford Government Center, 6th Floor Conference Room, 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, Connecticut.

The Phase 1 construction project is identified as State Project No. 135-326.

There are two major elements to this Phase 1 project. First is the relocation of the of the touchdown point for the I-95 northbound Exit 8 off-ramp.  Currently, this ramp touches down at the intersection of Atlantic Street and South State Street but right turns onto Atlantic Street are prohibited for ramp users, as are left turns onto Atlantic from those traveling on South State. As part of the construction, this touchdown will be permanently relocated approximately 500 feet to the east to a point along South State Street about halfway between Atlantic Street and Canal Street.  This relocation will require construction of a new bridge carrying the ramp over Atlantic Street and the installation of a new traffic signal where the off-ramp and South State Street merge.  In addition, the intersection of South State Street and Canal Street will be modified to provide for five lanes of traffic, three through lanes along with a dedicated left and right-turn lane, along the approach from the new ramp touchdown. A new traffic signal will also be installed at the South State / Canal intersection.

The second key element of the Phase 1 project is the creation of a bypass corridor for existing private utility facilities currently located beneath Atlantic Street. As part of the overall project, once the newer, wider Atlantic Street MNRR Bridge is installed under Phase 2, it will be necessary to lower Atlantic Street approximately four and a half feet in order to achieve the required minimum vertical clearance of 14-feet, 6-inches for new bridges over local roadways.  In order to implement the roadway lowering, the existing utilities must first be relocated.  As a result of extensive coordination with the utility companies, the Department agreed to have its contractor install three 42-inch steel pipes beneath the MNRR right-of-way between Manhattan Street and South State Street.  Once these pipes have been ‘jacked’ into place, contractors retained by the various utility companies will perform the necessary relocations.

Additional work to be completed under Phase 1 includes drainage upgrades and sanitary sewer relocation along South State Street. State Project No. 135-326 was awarded to Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc., of Yonkers, New York on January 15, 2016 for $33,881,217.09.  Phase 1 construction activities officially began in April 2016 and are anticipated to be complete in June 2018.  Please note that Phase 2, which is identified as State Project No. 135-301, will be procured as a separate construction contract with its own independent work timeframe. Both contracts are being administered by the Department’s Office of Construction – District 3, New Haven.

Existing traffic operations will be impacted due to the construction. Temporary lane and/or shoulder closures will be implemented along project roadways for extended durations. Under the terms of the contract, the contractor is permitted to perform work on I-95 northbound Monday through Friday from 9 pm to 6 am.  Work on Atlantic, South State and Canal Street is permitted Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm as well as 9 pm to 5 am. Variable message signs on I-95 and South State Street will be utilized to advise motorists of traffic conditions in the area.  Motorists should be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions.

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 construction project.

The meeting facility is ADA accessible.  Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department’s Office of Communications (voice only) at (860) 594-3062 prior to the meeting.  Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public, and efforts will be made to respond to requests for assistance.

Plans of the proposed project will be on display for public review.  Department personnel and representatives will be available during the meeting to discuss this project.  More detailed information is available at the Department’s Office of Construction, District 3, 140 Pond Lily Avenue, New Haven.  Anyone wishing to discuss the project may contact James Pelletier, Jr. at (203) 389-3100 or by e-mail at james.pelletier@ct.gov.  Additionally, the Department has established a Project Website, www.atlanticstreetbridge.com,  where interested parties can obtain additional information, sign up for project updates via social media and/or email, and submit questions for project personnel.