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

FOR RELEASE: August 1, 2018

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 is announcing that the sidewalk on the I-95 Gold Star Bridge in Groton and New London is scheduled to be temporarily closed to pedestrians beginning on August 13, 2018. 

The closure is necessary to facilitate full-depth concrete repairs to the sidewalk and expansion joint replacement as part of the ongoing Gold Star Bridge rehabilitation project.  The closure is expected to last for roughly 10 weeks. The closure will be posted at the three entrances to the sidewalk,  and fencing and barricades will be installed to prevent access.  Sidewalk users are asked to please obey the signs and not attempt to access the sidewalk or the construction work zone.

The repair work involves removing significant sections of the sidewalk slabs, as well as that of the existing pedestrian safety fencing.  The existing work zone on the bridge, which is separated from vehicular traffic by concrete barriers, will be used to safely access the area for repair activities.  Snooper trucks, mobile concrete mixers, loaders, dump trucks and other heavy equipment will be utilized to complete this work and multiple contactor crews will be working extended hours to repair the sidewalk as efficiently as possible in order to minimize the closure duration.

The Department has partnered with Southeast Area Transit District (SEAT) to provide a dedicated shuttle bus with stops at each of the three sidewalk entrances (1 Bailey Circle in New London and, 160 Bridge Street, and 121 Riverview Avenue in Groton).  The service will accommodate pedestrians and cyclists free-of-charge and will run continuously from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM with stops every half hour.  The schedule may be adjusted at a later date based on ridership.  SEAT operates other routes in the local area.  For additional information and routes, please visit SEAT’s website at www.seatbus.com.

There will be no changes to the lane configuration across the bridge.  The four I-95 SB travel lanes will remain on the south side of the bridge.  Additional lane closures may be implemented during off peak hours.

DOT Project No. 0094-0252 was awarded to Mohawk Northeast, Inc. of Plantsville, Connecticut, for a cost of $26 million on December 16, 2016, and is scheduled to be completed November 30, 2018.

For additional information, please visit the Department’s Gold Star Memorial Bridge website at the following location:  http://www.i95goldstar.com.