State Transportation Commissioner Ralph J. Carpenter today announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation Office of Engineering will be conducting a public Information Meeting to discuss safety concerns and other traffic related issues on Route 140 (Crystal Lake Road) in Ellington and Tolland.  The Department has prepared a Preliminary Engineering Study to be presented to the community for public comment.  The project extends from Route 83 (Somers Road) to Route 30 (Stafford Road).

Specific areas of discussion will include the following:

• Realignment of the intersection of Routes 83 and 140
• Roadway reconstruction between Pinnacle Road and Teabury Ridge
• Replacement of Charters Brook Culvert
• Intersection sight distance improvements at:
  • Pinnacle Road/Hopkins Road
  • Webster Road/Shenipist Lake Road
  • Ludwig Road
  • Newell Hill Road
  • Burbank Road

The initial scope of the project involved the full reconstruction of the roadway within the limits of work.  Based on subsequent comments from the community, the Department has agreed to re-evaluate the scope of work to better meet the transportation needs of the region.

The meeting will be held on February 7, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Ellington Town Hall, 55 Main Street.  The meeting will be an “open-house” format where Department representatives will be available to answer questions from the public.  A brief presentation will be made at 7:30 pm.

“It is the Department’s policy to keep the public informed and involved when projects are under taken, Commissioner Carpenter said.  It is important that the community share its concern with the Department to assist in the development of the facility.”

Anyone interested in receiving information on this project may do so by contacting Mr. Thomas A. Harley, Manager of Consultant Design, at (860) 594-3189 or by e-mail at Thomas A. Harley@p.o.state.ct.us.  Please make reference to project No.  47-105.